The Speaker of Parliament, Ana Brnabić, announced last Friday that citizens would gather in peaceful movements against protests and disruptions of institutions and infrastructure on August 31 in 100 cities. On August 20 and 23, dozens of Serbian cities witnessed peaceful gatherings with tens of thousands participating. In the Zemun district of Belgrade, a peaceful gathering began at 18:30 (16:30 GMT) in the courthouse square in front of the municipal building, where about two thousand citizens of various ages raised national flags and balloons with slogans like: “I want to study,” “I want to work,” “I want peace.”
In Novi Sad, police arrested two opposing protesters last Wednesday on suspicion of assaulting security personnel during a demonstration that took place on Tuesday evening. The student and opposition protests in Serbia began with the collapse of an umbrella at the Novi Sad train station on November 1, 2024, resulting in 16 deaths. The situation escalated in Serbian cities in mid-August, with protesters becoming more confrontational with security forces during the night, setting up barricades and blocking roads.
On August 18, Vučić confirmed he did not intend to impose a state of emergency in the country, pledging decisive action against protesters to restore peace and order. Prime Minister Dušan Matić condemned the violence and called for reducing tensions, while the Patriarch of Serbia, Porfirije, urged his fellow citizens to stop conflicts and disputes.
