Clashes erupted across Serbia for a second consecutive night on August 13, as anti-government demonstrators and supporters of the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) confronted one another in several cities, deepening a political crisis that has simmered for months.

The unrest follows more than nine months of largely peaceful protests against President Aleksandar Vucic and his administration, with tensions boiling over after violence broke out between government loyalists and protesters in the northern towns of Vrbas and Backa Palanka late on August 12.

Student-led demonstrations, under the banner “Serbia, Wake Up”, were held in over 30 towns and cities on August 13-14, including Belgrade, Novi Sad, Nis and Kragujevac. Organisers are calling for an end to police violence and early parliamentary elections.

In Novi Sad, Serbia’s second-largest city, the situation quickly escalated when SNS supporters launched fireworks and flares at demonstrators outside party headquarters. Protesters responded by smashing windows and confronting riot police, who deployed tear gas to disperse the crowd.

The Ministry of Defence said that seven members of the Serbian Armed Forces were injured in the clashes, four of them seriously. Lieutenant General Duro Jovanic, head of the Military Security Agency, said the soldiers were caught in the unrest while attempting to manage the situation.

Interior Minister Ivica Dacic said that an armed man pictured at the scene, later identified as Serbian Army ensign Vladimir Brkusanin, was acting in an official capacity by holding his gun in the air. Dacic denied accusations that SNS supporters had drawn weapons, stating that the soldier was protecting a “designated person” and had used his service pistol lawfully.

Violence also flared in Belgrade, where riot police deployed tear gas and attempted to contain demonstrators near SNS offices in New Belgrade. Protesters clashed with officers, some throwing objects and pushing past police lines. N1 television reported that officers were occasionally forced to retreat.

Journalists covering the protests were also injured. Nikola Bilic of Novi Sad’s 192 portal was beaten, while Razglas reporter Zarko Bogosavljevic was struck in the head with a baton.

Footage shared on social media showed Andrej Vucic, the president’s brother, leading a group of SNS activists through Pioneers’ Park in central Belgrade. The park has become a symbol of the contra-protest movement, hosting a tent encampment maintained by party supporters.

Opposition figures accused the government of encouraging violence through selective enforcement and the use of convicted criminals to intimidate demonstrators. Critics can point to a string of controversial pardons by President Vucic, including the August 1 release of Milica Stojanovic, who had faced attempted murder charges for driving into a crowd of protesters in January.

In another instance, Vucic granted clemency to four SNS activists convicted of assaulting a protester earlier this year in Novi Sad.

Interior Minister Dacic has called for the "return of law and order", while President Vucic described the demonstrators as “thugs”, echoing past government rhetoric labelling protesters as “terrorists”.

The protests were initially triggered by a deadly infrastructure collapse in November 2024, when a train station canopy in Novi Sad collapsed, killing 16 people. The tragedy prompted allegations of corruption and mismanagement in state-run projects.

Since then, university students have spearheaded a wave of civil disobedience and public gatherings demanding accountability and democratic reforms. Protesters are now pressing for early parliamentary elections.

President Vucic has indicated snap elections could be held before the scheduled 2027 deadline, but has yet to commit to a specific timeline. On August 13 the president confirmed he would not stand for re-election at the end of his term, allaying fears he might attempt to change the Constitution to extend his rule.

As violence escalates, pressure is mounting on the government to de-escalate tensions. Without calling early elections, Serbia risks sliding further into authoritarianism and civil unrest.