Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vucic on Sunday (August 17, 2025) introduced tough measures in opposition to anti-government protesters following days of riots within the streets all through Serbia which have challenged his more and more autocratic rule within the Balkan nation.
In one among his frequent TV addresses to the general public, Mr. Vucic accused the anti-government demonstrators of “pure terrorism” and reiterated his claims that months of persistent protests in opposition to his rule have been orchestrated within the West and aimed toward destroying Serbia.
“Our country is in grave danger, they have jeopardised all our values, normal life, each individual,” Mr. Vucic stated, alleging an elaborate scheme that might finally set up “anarcho-leftist” authorities sooner or later. He didn’t supply any concrete proof for his claims.
“Unless we undertake tougher steps it is a question of days when they (protesters) will kill someone,” Vucic stated. “I am saying this for history.”
The stern warnings got here after 5 consecutive nights of clashes between the protesters on one facet and police and Vucic’s loyalists on the opposite. Angry protesters on Saturday night torched Vucic’s governing Serbian Progressive Party places of work in a city in western Serbia, and of different ruling coalition allies.
The demonstrators on Saturday night additionally clashed with police in Belgrade, the capital, and within the northern metropolis of Novi Sad. Riot officers used tear fuel in opposition to demonstrators who hurled stun grenades, flares and bottles at them.
Mr. Vucic didn’t specify what the state response that he stated would come inside every week. But he confused {that a} state of emergency shouldn’t be imminent. Scores of individuals have already been detained and injured up to now days, whereas police have confronted accusations of extreme pressure and arbitrary detentions of protesters.
“You will witness the determination of the state of Serbia,” Vucic stated. “We will use everything at our disposal to restore peace and order in the country.”
The clashes this week marked a significant escalation following greater than 9 months of largely peaceable demonstrations that began after a concrete cover collapsed at a practice station in Serbia’s north, killing 16 folks.
Many in Serbia blamed the tragedy on alleged widespread corruption in state-run infrastructure tasks that they are saying fueled poor renovation work. The Serbian president has confronted accusations of stifling democratic freedoms whereas permitting organised crime and corruption to flourish. He has denied this.
Serbia is formally looking for EU membership, however Mr. Vucic has maintained robust ties with Russia and China. On Sunday, he praised Russia’s backing for his authorities in opposition to what he referred to as a “colored revolution” in opposition to his authorities.
