site.btaBelgrade Students Condemn Police Tear Gas Attack on Novi Sad Protesters

Protesting students in Belgrade expressed solidarity with their peers in Novi Sad in an Instagram post after police used batons and tear gas against them earlier on Monday. They condemned the excessive use of force against students and other citizens, noting that women and girls were among those injured. "Violence is never justified. We will continue together and persist until our demands are met," the post reads.

The Faculty of Sports and Physical Education in Novi Sad has been blocked as part of the anti-government protests. The incident took place when students, opposition party activists, and citizens gathered in front of the Faculty in attempt to prevent Dean Patrik Drid from entering the building. Serbian media reported that the police used force to disperse the protesters. Earlier, Drid had announced plans to end the blockade. Clashes broke out, and two professors from the Philosophy Faculty were injured while protesting alongside students. Several individuals were arrested.

Interior Minister Ivica Dacic said that police used minimal force only after being attacked and clarified that the intervention was at the request of Dean Drid. "We intervened using minimal force to defend ourselves," Dacic said. "We will not allow attacks on the police. Do not force the police to exercise their powers. The violence today was not provoked by the police," he added. The Ministry of Interior, in cooperation with the Prosecution Office, is working to identify those involved in the incidents in Novi Sad.

Since November, students, supported by teachers, farmers, and workers, have been protesting across Serbia. The protests began after the roof of Novi Sad's train station collapsed, killing 16 people. One of the key demands is the full release of documentation regarding the reconstruction of the station building. Although the Government and the Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic announced that the documentation had been made publicly available, further documents have emerged under the pressure of ongoing protests. Students also demand accountability for those responsible for attacks on protesters during previous demonstrations and the termination of criminal proceedings against those arrested by the police.