Serbian riot police clashed with protesters outside the University of Novi Sad late on Friday, dispersing crowds with tear gas after demonstrators hurled stones, paint and fireworks, according to witnesses and local media.
Germany’s dpa news agency, citing broadcaster N1, reported that police units and gendarmerie violently broke up a peaceful gathering of thousands in front of the university’s philosophy faculty, which has been a focal point of student-led protests for the past 10 days.
The unrest followed months of demonstrations triggered by the collapse of a railway station roof in Novi Sad, which opposition figures and independent experts blamed on negligence and corruption under President Aleksandar Vucic’s government.
“What started as largely peaceful has increasingly turned violent in recent weeks, with police cracking down harshly on demonstrators,” dpa reported.
Serbia’s Interior Ministry said protesters attacked officers with projectiles and pyrotechnics, injuring 11 policemen. President Vucic praised police for “doing their job” and said dozens of people would be arrested.
German public broadcaster ARD aired a report featuring teachers and journalists who said they faced dismissals and pressure for supporting the protests. Slavica Filipovic, a high school teacher, said she was fired after 24 years. “We laughed when I was dismissed, not because it was funny, but because we thought: what are they playing at?” she told ARD.
ARD also highlighted concerns about media freedom, citing a leaked conversation between executives of state-owned Telekom Serbia and United Group, owner of independent channel N1, discussing management changes. “People at N1 are, of course, in a difficult position, but they are ready to defend their right to report freely,” Igor Bozic, N1’s programming director, told the broadcaster.
The European Union has so far avoided direct criticism of Vucic over the protests and media allegations. But German MEP Michael Gahler of the European People’s Party called for stronger EU pressure. “Especially for larger tranches of EU funds, we must set stricter conditions on media freedom and the fight against corruption. If these are not met, then there should be no payments,” he said.
The protests, described by dpa as the largest in Serbia since the breakup of Yugoslavia, have deepened political tension ahead of possible early elections demanded by opposition groups.