Serbia is facing its most intense wave of protests in decades as demonstrators challenge President Aleksandar Vucic’s decade-long populist rule, raising concerns over political stability and human rights.

The unrest began after a deadly canopy collapse at Novi Sad railway station on Nov. 1, 2024, which killed at least 16 people, highlighting alleged state negligence and corruption. Initially led by university students, the protests have expanded nationwide, drawing citizens frustrated with rising living costs and government impunity. Demonstrators are demanding accountability, transparency, and early elections.

Authorities have responded with escalating force, deploying riot police, plainclothes officers, and parapolice units reportedly led by pro-Vucic soccer hooligans. Protesters have faced beatings, arbitrary arrests, and the use of tear gas, stun grenades, and sonic devices, prompting condemnation from human rights groups. In turn, demonstrators have staged sit-ins, occupied university halls, and blocked major roads, sustaining a cycle of confrontation.

Vucic, who rose to power from his nationalist beginnings under former strongman Slobodan Milosevic, has dismissed protesters as “terrorists” backed by Western powers. While offering dialogue, he has refused to call early elections and has replaced over 100 teachers and university staff with loyalists.

Despite domestic unrest, Vucic maintains a balancing act in foreign policy, engaging both Russia and China while signaling willingness to cooperate with the West. Serbia remains an EU candidate country, but progress is slow, with European officials urging reforms in judiciary, media freedoms, and anti-corruption measures.

Analysts warn that Europe’s muted response, driven partly by fears of regional instability, may embolden Vucic. With protests spreading to dozens of cities, the political crisis shows no signs of easing, leaving Serbia at risk of further unrest and potential bloodshed.