More than 100,000 individuals participated in a protest rally in Belgrade opposing the president and government of Serbia.

 More than 100,000 individuals participated in a protest rally in Belgrade opposing the president and government of Serbia.

At least 100,000 people gathered in Belgrade on Saturday for a massive rally, marking the peak of months-long protests against Serbia’s populist President Aleksandar Vučić and his government.

The city’s downtown was overwhelmed with flag-waving demonstrators, packed so tightly that movement was nearly impossible, with many stuck hundreds of meters from the planned protest site. Despite occasional rain, the turnout was massive.

Protesters Call for Justice Amid Tensions

University students, who have led the peaceful demonstrations for four months, abruptly called for an end to the rally after sporadic clashes between protesters and police, citing concerns over safety. While most protesters dispersed, thousands remained in the streets as tensions escalated.

Authorities estimated the crowd at 107,000 at its peak, while independent Serbian media described it as the largest demonstration in the country’s history, suggesting the numbers were even higher. Public transport in Belgrade was suspended as demonstrators flooded the city from all directions.

The protests began in response to a deadly train station collapse in northern Serbia last November, which killed 15 people. Many Serbians blamed the tragedy on government corruption, negligence, and a disregard for construction safety regulations. The movement quickly grew into a broader anti-corruption campaign, shaking Vučić’s 13-year grip on power like never before.

Saturday’s demonstration, named “15 for 15,” referred to both the date of the protest and the number of victims in the Novi Sad accident. In the evening, the crowd observed 15 minutes of silence in their memory.

Government Crackdown and Rising Tensions

Ahead of the protest, Vučić warned of possible unrest and threatened arrests for any incidents.

Throughout the day, the sound of whistles, drums, and vuvuzelas echoed through the city. Protesters carried banners reading “He’s Finished!” and chanted slogans such as “Pump it Up,” a phrase that has become a rallying cry for the movement.

“I hope this shakes his authority and that Vučić realizes the people no longer support him,” said protester Milenko Kovacević.

“This isn’t the final step, but the beginning of the end,” added another demonstrator, Dejan Simić. “I hope this process will end soon.”

University students have played a key role in mobilizing the movement, striking a chord with citizens disillusioned by political corruption and a lack of trust in state institutions. On Friday night, tens of thousands of people gathered to welcome student activists who had marched or cycled from across Serbia to join the rally.

Interior Minister Ivica Dačić reported that 13 people had been detained overnight, including six opposition activists accused of plotting a coup.

By Saturday morning, people were assembling in different parts of Belgrade before marching toward the city center, filling the downtown area hours before the official start.

In one violent incident, police arrested a man who rammed his car into protesters in a Belgrade suburb, injuring three people. Hundreds of police officers were stationed around government buildings and the presidential palace as security concerns grew.

Authorities also appeared to take measures to limit attendance, with railway and bus routes to Belgrade suddenly canceled under the pretext of “security reasons.” Meanwhile, reporters from Croatia and Slovenia were reportedly turned away at the Serbian border and told their presence at the rally posed a “security risk.”

Vučić Rejects Calls for Early Elections

President Vučić has dismissed calls for a transitional government to prepare for early elections. His supporters, including former paramilitary members involved in the 2003 assassination of Serbia’s first democratic Prime Minister Zoran Đinđić, as well as violent football hooligans, have been camping near his headquarters, raising fears of potential clashes.

On Saturday, private broadcaster N1 aired footage of dozens of young men in baseball caps entering the pro-Vučić camp.

Vučić has claimed, without evidence, that Western intelligence services are behind the student-led protests in an attempt to remove him from power.

Despite tensions in Belgrade, previous student-led protests across Serbia have remained peaceful, drawing large crowds in multiple cities.