Serbia

Chronology of the struggle

Excerpt from “Student Revolt in Serbia : Vučić’s Nemesis ?»

Sunday 23 March 2025, by Ivaylo Dinev

The scale and intensity of this movement is unprecedented in Serbia’s recent history – and in the entire history of student movements in Europe. The students have gained widespread support in academia and beyond. Around 5,000 university professors signed an online letter of solidarity, and by the end of December 2024, 85 universities – 74 per cent of the country’s universities – had joined the protests. Farmers blocked Serbia’s main highway in December, and artists, high school students, teachers , education unions, lawyers , and media associations have also expressed their support, with 73 schools suspending classes in solidarity with the students .

As part of the campaign "Zastani, Srbijo" ("Stop, Serbia"), people took to the streets in 58 cities across the country and observed 15 minutes of silence in memory of the 15 victims of the Novi Sad tragedy. On December 22, 2024, approximately 100,000 people gathered in Belgrade’s Slavija Square for the largest protest in Serbia in twenty years. Students, joined by farmers , trade unions, and opposition groups, carried banners with messages such as "Your hands are bloody," "Students are not silent," and "Corruption kills."

There is no sign of a decline in the protests since the beginning of the year. At last count, the number of cities where demonstrations took place stood at 151. On 24 January, students called a general strike, which led to nationwide protests and the suspension of classes in 68 per cent of high schools and 48 per cent of primary schools. The Serbian diaspora and celebrities have also lent their support, including tennis player Novak Djokovic, who expressed solidarity with the protesters at the Australian Open.

The student movement adopted a participatory approach, avoiding centralized leadership and the influence of political parties. In occupied universities, students held general assemblies where all participants could vote. This strategy gave the movement credibility and authenticity, helping it spread throughout Serbia.

A survey conducted by the Centre for Research, Accountability and Transparency (CRRT) in late December 2024 showed the extent of public support for the movement: 61 per cent of citizens support the protests and 58 per cent of them believe that the students’ desire for transparency on the Novi Sad tragedy Sad is sincere. Only 33 per cent consider the protests to be part of a conspiracy by “internal and external enemies” to destabilize Serbia. The survey also revealed widespread disillusionment with the Serbian leader: 52 per cent of respondents said they would vote against President Aleksandar Vučić in a referendum, while only 34 per cent expressed confidence in him.

The Centre for East European and International Studies 28 January 2025

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