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Friday, Mar 13, 2026
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Students Protest in Serbia, Block State TV Amid Growing Tensions
Student-led demonstrations intensify as protesters accuse Serbian state broadcaster of bias against anti-government actions.
Hundreds of student protesters have besieged the building of Serbia’s public television station in Belgrade, escalating tensions before a planned nationwide rally this weekend, which marks the culmination of several months of anti-government protests.
The students initiated the blockade late Monday and resumed their action on Tuesday, committing to at least a 22-hour disruption.
A similar blockade has been reported in Novi Sad, Serbia's second-largest city.
These protests have emerged in response to a tragic incident last November, when a concrete canopy collapsed at a railway station in Novi Sad, resulting in the deaths of 15 individuals.
Since then, university students have been at the forefront of daily demonstrations challenging the administration of President Aleksandar Vučić, whose populist governance has faced significant scrutiny.
Protesters assert that the state broadcaster, RTS, has engaged in biased reporting favoring the government.
On the evening preceding the blockade, President Vučić appeared on the main news bulletin and disparaged the student-led protests, stating that security forces would use necessary measures against demonstrators during the anticipated rally.
He declared, "You will have to kill me if you want to replace me."
In an interview, a reporter from RTS labeled the protesting students as “a mob,” a characterization that Vučić seemed to support.
This followed a recent exchange where Vučić insulted a reporter covering the protests, calling him “an imbecile,” although he later issued an apology.
Vučić condemned RTS reporters, branding them a “disgrace to their profession.”
The state broadcaster released a statement condemning the blockade, stating, "Forcibly preventing RTS employees from coming to their workplaces represents a dangerous step into open conflicts with unpredictable consequences."
On the same day, Vučić met with Donald Trump Jr., son of the U.S. president, whose visit has drawn attention, although its purpose remains unclear.
Vučić has been a staunch supporter of the U.S. administration.
In the aftermath of the Novi Sad disaster, there has been a public outcry regarding potential governmental corruption and negligence in renovation efforts.
Sixteen individuals have been indicted in connection with the incident.
Students are calling for full accountability, a position that resonates with a public increasingly disillusioned with politicians and state institutions.
Recent rallies have attracted tens of thousands of participants, marking some of the largest anti-government mobilizations in the Balkans, a region with a notable history of such protests.
Vučić has characterized these protests as a western-sponsored attempt to destabilize his government.
He warned that if violence were to occur during the upcoming demonstrations, consequences would follow, stating that many protesters would end up “behind bars accused of criminal acts.” Although most of the recent student protests have remained peaceful, there have been isolated incidents involving opposition vehicles crashing into protest blockades and other forms of aggression towards demonstrators.
Vučić's administration, led by his Serbian Progressive Party, has maintained a strong grip on power for over ten years, facing allegations of suppressing democratic freedoms while simultaneously pursuing European Union membership for Serbia.
The students initiated the blockade late Monday and resumed their action on Tuesday, committing to at least a 22-hour disruption.
A similar blockade has been reported in Novi Sad, Serbia's second-largest city.
These protests have emerged in response to a tragic incident last November, when a concrete canopy collapsed at a railway station in Novi Sad, resulting in the deaths of 15 individuals.
Since then, university students have been at the forefront of daily demonstrations challenging the administration of President Aleksandar Vučić, whose populist governance has faced significant scrutiny.
Protesters assert that the state broadcaster, RTS, has engaged in biased reporting favoring the government.
On the evening preceding the blockade, President Vučić appeared on the main news bulletin and disparaged the student-led protests, stating that security forces would use necessary measures against demonstrators during the anticipated rally.
He declared, "You will have to kill me if you want to replace me."
In an interview, a reporter from RTS labeled the protesting students as “a mob,” a characterization that Vučić seemed to support.
This followed a recent exchange where Vučić insulted a reporter covering the protests, calling him “an imbecile,” although he later issued an apology.
Vučić condemned RTS reporters, branding them a “disgrace to their profession.”
The state broadcaster released a statement condemning the blockade, stating, "Forcibly preventing RTS employees from coming to their workplaces represents a dangerous step into open conflicts with unpredictable consequences."
On the same day, Vučić met with Donald Trump Jr., son of the U.S. president, whose visit has drawn attention, although its purpose remains unclear.
Vučić has been a staunch supporter of the U.S. administration.
In the aftermath of the Novi Sad disaster, there has been a public outcry regarding potential governmental corruption and negligence in renovation efforts.
Sixteen individuals have been indicted in connection with the incident.
Students are calling for full accountability, a position that resonates with a public increasingly disillusioned with politicians and state institutions.
Recent rallies have attracted tens of thousands of participants, marking some of the largest anti-government mobilizations in the Balkans, a region with a notable history of such protests.
Vučić has characterized these protests as a western-sponsored attempt to destabilize his government.
He warned that if violence were to occur during the upcoming demonstrations, consequences would follow, stating that many protesters would end up “behind bars accused of criminal acts.” Although most of the recent student protests have remained peaceful, there have been isolated incidents involving opposition vehicles crashing into protest blockades and other forms of aggression towards demonstrators.
Vučić's administration, led by his Serbian Progressive Party, has maintained a strong grip on power for over ten years, facing allegations of suppressing democratic freedoms while simultaneously pursuing European Union membership for Serbia.
