Protests in Serbia 

On May 25, 2023, we organized the fifth online webinar this year with our Young Leaders‘ Programme members. The discussion focused on protests in Serbia – “Serbia against violence”.

Tens of thousands of protestors blocked Belgrade as they joined the “Serbia against violence” protest before the National Assembly on Friday – the third and biggest in a series of protests since the country was shaken by two mass shootings that left 18 dead and 21 injured two weeks ago.

The protests, widely considered anti-government, started after two mass shootings in two days on 3 and 4 May. The government has since announced measures aimed at tightening gun control laws.

The protestors reiterated their demands during the protest, blocking Gazela Bridge and Branko’s Bridge, which included the replacement of all current members of the Regulatory Authority for Electronic Media, the cancellation of TV programmes that promote violence, and the ban of print media that promotes aggression and violates the journalistic code of ethics.

The opposition protesters in Belgrade also chanted slogans calling Vucic to “go” and “resign.”

The ruling party widely rejected their demands and said foreign secret services were manipulating the protests. Supporters of President Aleksander Vucic called a counterprotest in a town north of Belgrade, attended by thousands of his supporters.