site.btaProtesters Clash with Police during Serbian Students’ Vidovdan Rally in Belgrade

Protesters clashed with police in Belgrade on Saturday evening as university students held a rally on Vidovdan, a national and religious holiday in Serbia commemorating significant historical events for the nation and associated with expectations of future important developments for the Serbs.

Law enforcers tried to push back a group of demonstrators around the Constitutional Court building, who used bottles of water and other things to defend themselves.

The students’ ultimatum for the government to propose to President Aleksandar Vucic to schedule early parliamentary elections expired at 9 PM local time (10 PM Bulgarian time).

“Today, June 28, 2025, we declare the present government illegitimate,” a student stated, speaking from a rostrum in Slavija Square, the venue of the demonstration.

About an hour earlier, Vucic posted a video in his Instagram profile showing him playing chess in the Presidency. The caption said: “Now, from the Presidency. Time to relax.”

On Friday, the President said the students’ ultimatum would not be accepted, so they need not care about its deadline.

Vucic has, on more than one occasion, rejected calls for snap parliamentary elections coming not only from the students but also from opposition parties. He has said elections cannot be held until after EXPO 2027, which will be hosted by Serbia.