BELGRADE: Tens of thousands of people gathered in Serbia’s capital, Belgrade, on Saturday for the fifth anti-government protest this month. The demonstrations, known as “Serbia against violence,” have become some of the largest rallies since the fall of Slobodan Milosevic’s regime over two decades ago.
The recent protests were sparked by two consecutive shootings in early May that resulted in the deaths of 18 people, including nine students from a Belgrade elementary school.
Protesters are expressing their anger towards the ruling party, alleging a culture of violence promoted by the government and its controlled media outlets.
They are demanding the revocation of broadcasting licenses for television channels that promote violent content and a ban on pro-government newspapers that target political dissidents and contribute to tensions. Additionally, the demonstrators are calling for the resignation of the interior minister and the head of the intelligence service.
Demands of Belgrade Protesters
The rally, organized by several pro-European opposition parties, was originally scheduled for Friday but was moved as a precaution due to the announced presence of far-right groups.
The demands made by the protesters have faced strong opposition from President Aleksandar Vucic and his allies, who have mocked the rallies and insulted the participants. Critics accuse President Vucic of employing autocratic measures to suppress opposition and control media outlets and state institutions.
President Vucic dismissed the protests as a “political” stunt and propagated conspiracy theories about foreign powers allegedly orchestrating the rallies. He also rejected the opposition’s call for a transitional government before new elections, asserting that it would not occur as long as he remains in power.
