Serbia's populist leader vows tough response to protesters following
riots
[August 18, 2025]
BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) — Serbia's President Aleksandar
Vucic on Sunday announced tough measures against anti-government
protesters following days of riots in the streets throughout Serbia that
have challenged his increasingly autocratic rule in the Balkan country.
Thousands of people defied Vucic's threat of a crackdown and protested
later on Sunday in various Serbian towns, including the capital
Belgrade. Shouting “Arrest Vucic,” the protesters demanded that all
those detained in the past days be released. No incidents were reported.
In one of his frequent TV addresses to the public, Vucic accused the
anti-government demonstrators of “pure terrorism” and reiterated his
claims that months of persistent protests against his rule have been
orchestrated in the West and aimed at destroying Serbia.
“Our country is in grave danger, they have jeopardized all our values,
normal life, each individual,” Vucic said, alleging an elaborate scheme
that would eventually install “anarcho-leftist” authorities in the
future. He did not offer any concrete evidence for his claims.
“Unless we undertake tougher steps it is a question of days when they
(protesters) will kill someone,” Vucic said. “I am saying this for
history.”
The stern warnings came after five consecutive nights of clashes between
the protesters on one side and police and Vucic's loyalists on the
other. Angry protesters on Saturday evening torched Vucic’s governing
Serbian Progressive Party offices in a town in western Serbia, and of
other ruling coalition allies.
The demonstrators on Saturday evening also clashed with police in
Belgrade, the capital, and in the northern city of Novi Sad. Riot
officers used tear gas against demonstrators who hurled stun grenades,
flares and bottles at them.
Vucic did not specify what will be the state response that he said would
come within a week. But he stressed that a state of emergency is not
imminent. Scores of people already have been detained and injured in the
past days while police have faced accusations of excessive force and
arbitrary detentions of protesters.
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Serbian gendarmerie officers patrol in truck during an
anti-government protest near Serbian Progressive Party office in
Belgrade, Serbia, Friday, Aug. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
“You will witness the determination of the state of Serbia,” Vucic
said. “We will use everything at our disposal to restore peace and
order in the country.”
The clashes this week marked a major escalation following more than
nine months of largely peaceful demonstrations that started after a
concrete canopy collapsed at a train station in Serbia's north,
killing 16 people.
Many in Serbia blamed the tragedy on alleged widespread corruption
in state-run infrastructure projects that they say fueled poor
renovation work. The Serbian president has faced accusations of
stifling democratic freedoms while allowing organized crime and
corruption to flourish. He has denied this.
Serbia is formally seeking EU membership, but Vucic has maintained
strong ties with Russia and China. On Sunday, he praised Russia's
backing for his government against what he called a “colored
revolution” against his government.
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