site.btaRoad Blockades Continue Across Serbia for Third Day After Students’ Vidovdan Rally in Belgrade

Civic disobedience actions and road blockades continue for a third consecutive day in Serbia, following a student-led protest on Saturday at Belgrade’s Slavija Square under the slogan “We’ll see you on Vidovdan.”

Students were demanding early parliamentary elections. Their ultimatum for the government to propose to President Aleksandar Vucic to schedule early parliamentary elections expired at 9 PM local time on Saturday. On Friday, the President said the students’ ultimatum would not be accepted, so they need not care about its deadline.

On Tuesday, citizens, protesting against the arrests of students and others who clashed with police on Saturday, have been temporarily blocking streets and intersections in various parts of Belgrade at different times of the day and night. They move on foot, by bicycle, carrying shopping bags or ice cream, maintaining a state of constant movement.

People piled up garbage containers in the city centre and were continuously crossing the pedestrian walkway on the main square until police arrived.

Overnight blockades remained in place in Belgrade’s Zemun borough and near the Law Faculty on King Alexander Boulevard. The police pushed up the blockade near the university on early Tuesday.

Groups of students and members of Civil Councils from Belgrade municipalities stayed on site overnight, assisting with traffic regulation near the blockades.

Roads were also blocked in cities across the country, including Uzice, Cacak, Kraljevo, Kragujevac, Zrenjanin, Smederevo, Subotica, Pancevo, Novi Sad, and Nis.