Serbian police have detained 37 suspects in connection with the riots near the National Assembly in Belgrade, the press service of the Ministry of Interior announced.
“Officers of the Ministry of Interior have identified and detained 37 individuals who participated in disturbing peace and order during an unauthorized protest the night before in front of the National Assembly“, the statement said.
Security forces are reportedly working hard to identify and detain all participants in the riots.
On Sunday afternoon, Diana Hrka, the mother of 27-year-old Stefan Hrka, who died in the collapse of the Novi Sad train station on November 1, 2024, began a hunger strike in front of the building of the Belgrade Assembly, demanding that those responsible for the tragedy be found and early elections be held.
That same evening, students and their supporters began to gather there. Meanwhile, government supporters also gathered at the “Chaciland“ tent camp on the square in front of the parliament building.
President Aleksandar Vučić accused protesters of attacking the tents with fireworks. He said that attacks had been carried out on the offices of the ruling Serbian Progressive Party in seven cities across the country. Several police cordons separated the two groups of protesters.
Protesters whistled and chanted anti-government slogans. Their opponents, in turn, played patriotic songs. Two hours later, several dozen protesters remained at the fence, but the police and gendarmerie, heavily armed and carrying shields, did not remove the cordon.
According to the republic's Ministry of the Interior, one police officer was injured.
The protests by Serbian students and the opposition began last fall after a canopy collapsed at the Novi Sad train station. The largest protests and clashes between protesters and security forces occurred on March 15 and June 28. Tensions in the cities escalated in mid-August, when protesters began clashing with police and blocking roads in the evenings and at night.
The authorities condemned the violence and called for de-escalation.
