Serbian protesters torch ruling party office as unrest spreads
Thousands rallied on 17 August in defiance of Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic’s warning of a crackdown, setting fire to the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) office in Valjevo, while crowds in Belgrade chanted “Arrest Vucic.”
Demonstrations in the capital passed without major clashes, while violence erupted in Valjevo, central Serbia, where protesters also attacked municipal buildings.
The protests began in November 2024 after a railway station roof collapse resulted in the deaths of 16 people and have since snowballed into a nationwide movement focused on corruption and governance. Sunday’s events underscored the mix of largely peaceful mobilisation and episodic violence that now defines the unrest.
Valjevo protests turn violent
In Valjevo, masked demonstrators stormed the local SNS branch office, smashed windows and set the premises ablaze. City Hall and the prosecutor’s office were also damaged, news website Balkan Insight reported.
The attack followed days of tension after videos circulated showing police striking unarmed demonstrators. Footage last week appeared to show officers surrounding and beating a young man on the ground in Valjevo.
Belgrade demos stay peaceful
In Belgrade, north Serbia, thousands marched toward the SNS headquarters, demanding the release of detainees and chanting against Vucic. Police were deployed in large numbers but avoided the heavy-handed tactics seen earlier in the week, and the 17 August rally ended without major incidents, AP reported.
Serbia has seen near-daily demonstrations since November 2024. At their height, the rallies forced the resignation of the prime minister. Vucic has however rejected calls for early elections and accused foreign actors of seeking to destabilise the country.
Vucic vows unprecedented measures
Speaking at the Serbia Palace on Sunday, Vucic said "We must defend the values of normal and decent life. We have to resist, because if we are afraid of the state, what we have lived for all these decades, and what we fought for, there will be nothing left.
"The state's answer will be different from what you have seen so far. I promise the citizens of Serbia that burning will not last long. We will use everything at our disposal to restore order: peace and order.
"As long as I have breath in my lungs and blood in my veins, I will defy them and fight for Serbia. I will fight with the people, the citizens of Serbia - and we will win," Vucic added.
International concern
The EU has voiced concern over the police response and urged restraint and respect for democratic freedoms. EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos called the reports of violence “deeply concerning.”
Kos wrote on X that “Advancing on the EU path requires citizens can express their views freely and journalists can report without intimidation or attacks," AP reported.
Rights groups have meanwhile condemned images of beatings. For its part, the Serbian Interior Ministry denied excessive force and asserted that demonstrators had attacked police officers.
