Students from across Serbia are making their way on foot and by bicycle to Niš, the country's third-largest city, ahead of a large protest rally scheduled for March 1. The march is part of an ongoing wave of student-led protests, blockades and strikes that have swept the nation in recent months following the tragedy at Novi Sad railway station on November 1.
The rally in Niš is expected to draw thousands of students and citizens from all over Serbia, with the event being organised by the University of Niš. The protest, dubbed the "Student Edict" rally, comes on the heels of a similar gathering in Kragujevac on February 15. During the "Let's Meet at Sretenje" protest in Kragujevac, students hinted that the next major demonstration would take place in Niš.
The students’ journey to Niš has been met with overwhelming support from local communities, who have welcomed the protestors with cheers, songs, fireworks and food. As they trek from cities such as Kragujevac, Čačak, Bor and Bujanovac, the students have become symbols of the growing rebellion against perceived government failures and systemic corruption, which many blame for the deadly collapse of the canopy roof at the station in Novi Sad.
On February 27, a group of students, who had spent the night in Kruševac, continued their journey toward Niš. Before setting off, they received a blessing at the town's Lazarica Church, where local citizens brought out food for the students. According to a Danas reporter, near the river Rasina, a citizen came out on his balcony dressed as a soldier and played the military song "March on the Drina" over a loudspeaker as the students passed by. Priests also emerged from nearby churches, offering blessings as the students marched on.
In the days following their departure from Kragujevac, a group of students from Čačak embarked on a more than 160-kilometre trek to Niš. As they passed through towns such as Kraljevo, Užice and Kruševac, they were joined by additional groups of students, swelling their ranks as they neared their destination. Students from Novi Sad have taken two different routes: one group travelled by bus to Bor before walking the rest of the way, while another group is cycling to Niš, joining up with other students from Belgrade along the way.
Meanwhile, the citizens of Niš have been busy preparing for the influx of demonstrators. Social media groups have emerged, with locals offering free accommodation, transportation, food and drinks for the protesters. However, with the rise in demand for lodging ahead of the rally, accommodation prices in the city have surged. Reports from platforms like Booking.com and Airbnb indicate that the prices for rooms have skyrocketed, with some accommodations originally priced at around €100 now listed at over €700 per night, Vreme reported.
The protest on March 1 is expected to be another marathon event, lasting from 9 a.m. to 3 a.m. the following day. It will mirror the protests held recently in Kragujevac and Novi Sad, both of which saw passionate crowds and a significant turnout. Despite the rising political tension in Serbia, police have been present to ensure the safe passage of the students, occasionally stopping traffic to allow protesters to march through.
For the students, the protest is about more than just raising their voices. It is a powerful statement of resistance against the systemic issues of corruption and cronyism, which they say have plagued the country for years. And as they march toward Niš, they are not just calling for change but demonstrating that the fight for a better future is one they are willing to walk, or ride, for.
Local residents, including elderly citizens, have greeted the students with warmth and solidarity. According to local media reports, in Gaglov, a gentleman with a stroller stood to cheer on the protestors, while a grandmother handed out roses along the route. As the students continue their march, it is clear that the movement is not dissipating, but gaining momentum and drawing in people from all walks of life, united in their desire for a fairer, less corrupt society.
Cellebrite halts product use in Serbia after Amnesty warns over digital surveillance
Cellebrite, an Israeli digital forensics company, will cease the use of its products in Serbia following a report by Amnesty International accusing Serbian authorities of misusing surveillance tools to target journalists, activists and civil society members in December, Amnesty announced on February 26.
The company’s UFED suite, used by law enforcement and governments globally, allows for the extraction of data from mobile devices, without requiring access to passcodes. Amnesty's report, released in December 2024, detailed how Serbian authorities allegedly used Cellebrite's technology to extract data from activists' and journalists' phones, sometimes enabling the installation of spyware.
Amnesty’s findings raised alarm over the misuse of digital surveillance to target those critical of the government, particularly journalists and environmental activists. The report, titled “A Digital Prison: Surveillance and the Suppression of Civil Society in Serbia”, accused Serbian officials of engaging in covert surveillance of civil society under the guise of law enforcement.
In response to these findings, Cellebrite conducted its own review of the allegations, ultimately affirming Amnesty's report and deciding to suspend its services in Serbia for certain clients. In a statement issued on February 25, the company said: "After a review of the allegations brought forth by the December 2024 Amnesty International report, Cellebrite took precise steps to investigate each claim in accordance with our ethics and integrity policies. We found it appropriate to stop the use of our products by the relevant customers at this time."
Amnesty International welcomed the move. Donncha Ó Cearbhaill, Head of the Security Lab at Amnesty International, stated: "This decision reinforces Amnesty International’s December findings that Serbian police and intelligence routinely misused Cellebrite’s digital forensic equipment outside legally sanctioned processes to target civil society activists and independent journalists critical of the government."
The decision to halt operations in Serbia comes amid ongoing anti-government protests and heightened scrutiny of state surveillance. This week, Serbian police raided the offices of four non-governmental organisations (NGOs) as part of an investigation into the alleged abuse of USAID funds, referencing recent statements from senior US officials regarding a funding freeze.
Serbian energy sector faces crisis as banks set to close NIS accounts
Serbia’s energy sector is on the brink of a crisis, as foreign banks are set to close the accounts of the Oil Industry of Serbia (NIS) in response to impending US sanctions. The move threatens to disrupt the operations of NIS, which controls around 80% of the Serbian oil derivatives market and operates over 400 petrol stations across the region.
According to reports by local media, foreign banks will halt transactions with NIS by February 24, ahead of the sanctions, which are set to take effect on February 28. The decision has far-reaching consequences for the energy landscape in Serbia, with one source close to the situation warning that the closure of NIS’s accounts could effectively paralyse the company’s operations.
"A company ceases to exist when its accounts are closed," the source told Nova Ekonomija, a Serbian magazine, on February 20. "Even if someone wants to violate sanctions, there is no way to pay money to NIS. The government of Serbia really must not play with it, because it can itself come under the impact of sanctions."
The closure of NIS accounts could have severe consequences for Serbia’s fuel supply. NIS operates a substantial portion of the country's petrol stations under the NIS Petrol and Gazprom brands. Sources suggest that after the closure of the accounts, some of the company's stations may stop dispensing fuel. However, stations operated by other companies such as OMV, MOL and Shell are expected to remain unaffected.
To mitigate the potential fallout, Hungarian oil and gas giant MOL announced plans this week to ramp up fuel deliveries to Serbia. MOL says it is working closely with both Hungarian and Serbian authorities to streamline oil transportation, but energy experts caution that these measures may not be sufficient to prevent a wider crisis.
In anticipation of potential liquidity issues, NIS management pre-emptively paid February salaries to employees on February 19. This precaution comes amid concerns that the suspension of international payments could endanger the company’s financial stability once the sanctions are enacted on February 28, unless the US grants Serbia’s request for an extension.
With NIS controlling nearly 50% of Serbia’s retail fuel market, the potential inability of the company to sell fuel could have widespread implications. However, government officials have reassured the public, saying that pumps will remain operational since certain Serbian banks are expected to continue processing NIS transactions, allowing fuel to be paid for with dinar cards or cash.
The crisis is a direct result of US sanctions, but also Serbia's longstanding dependence on Russian energy, with Gazprom and its subsidiary Gazprom Neft maintaining a controlling stake in NIS since 2008. The relationship has exposed the country to significant geopolitical risks, particularly after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
NIS has been under international scrutiny for years, with critics arguing that Serbia's 2008 sale of a 51% stake in NIS to Gazprom Neft for €400mn left the country vulnerable to external pressures. Now, with the US sanctions targeting Russian entities in the energy sector, NIS finds itself facing a potentially dire situation.
The sanctions, announced on January 10, essentially freeze NIS’s operational model and require Gazprom Neft to divest its 50% stake within 45 days (by February 28). Serbia has requested a 90-day extension, but is still awaiting a response from Washington.
The Serbian government is under increasing pressure to secure NIS’s future. Among the options being considered are the repurchase of Gazprom's shares by the Serbian state or the sale of the company to a third party. While nationalisation has also been discussed, the government has ruled it out, fearing it could strain relations with Russia, particularly as the two countries prepare for negotiations over gas supply contracts set to expire in March 2025.
Speculation is growing that third parties such as Shell, MOL or Azerbaijan's SOCAR may step in to acquire Russia's shares in NIS. Some local experts, including Goran Radosavljevic, a professor at the FEFA faculty, believe it is more likely that investors from the Middle East could become involved. "It seems more realistic to me that some players from the Middle East will appear. It wouldn't surprise me if the Russians don’t want to sell their stake," Radosavljevic said in an interview with Nova Ekonomija.
The ongoing uncertainty comes at a time of heightened social unrest in Serbia, following a deadly infrastructure collapse at Novi Sad train station in November 2024. The tragedy sparked months of protests that have mobilised mass crowds in towns and cities across Serbia. Fuel price hikes and potential fuel shortages could exacerbate these tensions, especially for farmers who are already on the streets and find that their fuel subsidies that are now at risk.
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