Thousands of protestors in Belgrade march against parliament
(MENAFN) On Saturday, large crowds took to the streets of Belgrade, Serbia, calling for the dissolution of parliament and the holding of snap elections. This fresh wave of protests follows eight months of sporadic unrest sparked by a fatal accident last November, when a concrete canopy collapsed at a railway station in Novi Sad.
The recent demonstration gained momentum after student groups issued an “ultimatum” demanding that the government announce the dissolution of parliament by 9 p.m. on Saturday, warning that failure to do so would lead to “civil disobedience.”
Serbian authorities rejected the demand. President Aleksandar Vucic said only the government was willing to “hear out” the protesters and cautioned against any violent actions. Officials have repeatedly accused foreign actors of fueling the unrest, labeling the protests as an attempted ‘color revolution.’
On Saturday, Vucic again blamed “foreign powers” for the disturbances and vowed, “The country will be defended, and thugs will face justice,” during remarks to the press.
The deadly canopy collapse in Novi Sad claimed 16 lives and sparked calls for political and legal accountability. The current protests coincided with Vidovdan, Serbia’s major national and religious holiday observed on June 28.
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