Serbian police fire tear gas as anti-Vucic protests erupt across major cities

16 August 2025 , 08:59

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Serbian police fire tear gas as anti-Vucic protests erupt across major cities

In Belgrade, Serbian police used tear gas to disperse anti-government protesters who threw firecrackers and flares at law enforcement.

The protesters gathered in front of the army headquarters building and began throwing flares at police. Officers responded with tear gas canisters to push the crowd back, Reuters reports.

Demonstrations also took place in several other cities — Novi Sad, Kragujevac, Valjevo, and Niš. Police there likewise used tear gas against demonstrators. There is no official data yet on the number of injured.

Students, opposition groups, and anti-corruption activists accuse President Vučić and his allies of ties to organized crime, using violence against political opponents, and suppressing free speech.

“I am closely following events in Serbia, where human rights concerns persist,” wrote Michael O’Flaherty, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, on Facebook, adding that he condemns the use of force by police in Valjevo and urging Serbian authorities “to avoid excessive use of force, stop arbitrary arrests, and de-escalate the situation.”

In response, Vučić said he agrees to meet the protesters’ main demand but stressed that the final decision will be made by the relevant institutions — parliament and the electoral commission — not by him personally.

James Smith

Editor-in-Chief