Residents of Leskovac, Serbia, initially gathered for a protest walk in response to the dismissal of a local man from the Pension Fund, allegedly due to his participation in a protest in Niš. Today, they rallied in front of the National Theater, where Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić was meeting with citizens.

A police barricade prevented the protestors from reaching the theater. According to N1, a professor from Dejan Stanišić High School was apprehended while attempting to breach the police line.

After Vučić exited the theater, the demonstrators marched from the Gymnasium to the Pension Fund in support of the accused worker, Aleksandar Drašković, as reported by N1.

Vučić stated that he would instruct state authorities to consistently maintain order and lawfulness, indicating that those who fail to do so would face replacement, as reported by Beta.

“Police officers unwilling to uphold order and law will be replaced, as will prosecutors who neglect their duties,” Vučić remarked during his discussion with citizens at the National Theater in Leskovac, while on a visit to the Toplica and Jablanica districts, and labeled the “blockades” as acts of violence.

He condemned the actions of the prosecutors in Niš as “a significant shame,” questioning why they did not request detentions in light of the violence that occurred the previous night.

“This highlights the necessary reforms we need to undertake moving forward, and emphasizes what actions we must take,” Vučić expressed, noting that while the prosecution is autonomous, it is not entirely independent.

Additionally, he critiqued “certain state bodies” for their inadequate response during an incident in Niš when “thugs attacked citizens.”

Repeating claims regarding “considerable funds flowing into Serbia” to instigate a colored revolution, he vowed not to abandon his policies but to “fight more vigorously.”

In Leskovac, Vučić mentioned that 200 individuals gathered outside the National Theater who were allegedly “sent from Belgrade to throw objects at him,” yet they only resorted to “honking their horns.”

During his interaction with citizens in Leskovac, he reported that six people sustained serious injuries at the Niš protest, including two individuals with broken jaws.

Mateja Nikolić, a law student from Niš who was detained following the protests and the cancellation of a ruling party rally in that city, has since been released, according to unofficial channels reported by N1.

They noted that the Niš police did not respond to inquiries about the number of detentions or the basis for them after officials were bombarded with eggs.

Nikolić informed his colleagues about his detention shortly after video footage surfaced on his social media, showing Niš Mayor Dragoslav Pavlović being attacked in the street, despite being accompanied by several individuals who were protecting him while passersby hurled eggs and splashed water on him.

Unconfirmed sources informed N1 that the police confiscated the student’s phone during his detention, and according to his colleagues gathered outside the police station overnight, he is facing charges of violent behavior.

Another student from the Faculty of Economics was also reported as arrested, as noted by the media.

Students at the University of Niš have indicated that three of their peers were arrested last night. They condemned the lack of transparency surrounding the circumstances of the arrests and are demanding that authorities clarify the reasons behind them, assure transparency in the legal processes, and guarantee fair treatment.

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