Serbia: Anti-government protest planned in Novi Sad April 12, Belgrade April 13 /update 9

Event

Anti-government demonstrations organized in coordination with weekly demonstrations against the administration of President Aleksander Vučić are slated to take place in Novi Sad (Vojvodina region) on Friday, April 12. The gatherings on Friday are scheduled to begin at 18:00 (local time) in the city center, and come as ruling party officials from the Vojvodina region are holding pro-government rallies on Thursday, April 11.

Additionally, a protest is expected to take place in Belgrade on Saturday, April 13. Participants will reportedly gather from 15:00 outside the National Assembly building. A heightened security presence and localized traffic disruptions are anticipated near protest locations. Clashes between protesters and police cannot be ruled out.

Context

The protest movement, noted by the slogan "#1od5miliona" (#1of5million), began after political opposition leader Borko Stefanović was assaulted by a group of unidentified individuals in November 2018. The demonstrations, ongoing since December 8, have been organized to denounce perceived political abuses of the ruling Serbian Progressive Party and the lack of media freedom in the country, and to demand the resignation of President Vučić.

During protests on March 16-17, clashes broke out between demonstrators and security forces outside the presidential residence, with police using pepper spray to disperse protesters who attempted to station a truck with loudspeakers near the building. Protesters also stormed and occupied the Radio Television of Serbia (RTS) building to denounce perceived biased reporting. 

Advice

Individuals in Serbia are advised to monitor the situation, avoid all protests and demonstrations as a precaution, anticipate localized traffic disruptions and a heightened security presence near demonstration sites, and adhere to all instructions issued by the local authorities.