Clashes between anti-government demonstrators and supporters of Serbia's ruling party broke out across multiple cities late on August 12, in another violent escalation of a student-led protest movement that has gripped the country for over nine months.

At least 50 people were injured in the town of Vrbas, where protesters, members of the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) and police clashed outside local SNS offices. Similar scenes unfolded in Bačka Palanka, Novi Sad, Niš and the capital, Belgrade.

The protests were initially sparked in November 2024 by the collapse of a train station canopy in Novi Sad, which killed 16 and fuelled public outrage over alleged corruption and negligence in state infrastructure projects. The incident quickly evolved into a broader student-led movement demanding accountability and political reform.

The August 12 unrest began in Vrbas when, according to local media, rocks, bottles and fireworks were thrown at protesters from the direction of the SNS premises. Riot police deployed to the scene reportedly restrained demonstrators but did not intervene against SNS activists.

Following the incidents in northern Serbia, protesters gathered after midnight in front of SNS headquarters in Belgrade’s Vracar district. Tensions escalated as demonstrators confronted riot police, who had cordoned off the area.

In Novi Sad, a widely circulated video showed a man identified as Jovan “Coja” Kecman, a former football hooligan previously convicted of attempted murder, emerging from an SNS office wielding a folding chair. Kecman was convicted in 2019 of shooting a former police officer and had been extradited from Germany under an Interpol warrant. 

A second man seen in the video, identified only by his initials “GM”, has a history of arrests for violent behaviour and was previously involved in attempting to break through protest blockades.

In response to the violence, the student-led movement called for renewed demonstrations on August 13. “8.00 p.m. Wake up,” read a message posted to the students' official Instagram account.

Police director Dragan Vasiljevic said officers had “prevented major clashes”, adding that 16 police officers and 52 citizens were injured in Vrbas alone. He claimed demonstrators had “come to attack” the SNS premises.

But protesters accused the authorities of legitimising violence against them. The news outlet N1 said its team in Vrbas was physically attacked and pelted with stones while police remained passive. “Once again, it is shown that the safety of journalists in Serbia depends on political will, not on the law,” N1 said in a statement.

Images from Vrbas and Bačka Palanka showed SNS supporters throwing flares and bottles at crowds, with protesters hurling back various objects. In Belgrade, riot police forcibly dispersed demonstrators gathered downtown.

SNS party president Milos Vucevic condemned what he described as “attacks on people who do not think the same as the blockaders”. Speaking at a press conference, he accused protesters of promoting violence. “What we saw was the most naked violence — attacks on other people and injuries, dozens of people injured,” he said.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, speaking at a joint news conference in Belgrade with Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker, said the anti-government protests as “very violent and were violent last night”. Vucic and other officials have repeatedly referred to demonstrators as “terrorists,” despite months of largely peaceful protests.

Critics have accused the government of using convicted criminals and known agitators to intimidate demonstrators. The state is widely seen to be legitimising violence, illustrated by a series of controversial presidential pardons.

On August 1, Vucic pardoned Milica Stojanovic, who had been held on charges of attempted murder after driving into a crowd of protesters in January, seriously injuring a student. Charges were later downgraded and dismissed entirely.

Vucic also granted clemency to four SNS activists convicted of assaulting a protester in Novi Sad earlier this year, prompting concerns over the erosion of judicial independence.

The protesters, primarily led by university students, are demanding early parliamentary elections and the resignation of Interior Minister Ivica Dacic. The government has so far refused to meet their demands.

As the violence continues, there are growing fears of further escalation. Demonstrators have vowed to return to the streets, undeterred by the state’s response. The next major rally is expected at 8 p.m. on August 13 in cities across the country.