Serbian police intensified their crackdown on student-led protests late Tuesday and into the early hours of Wednesday (July 1-2), detaining several demonstrators and dismantling road blockades as a wave of civil disobedience entered its fifth day.

Since June 29, thousands of protesters have blocked roads and intersections in major cities – including Belgrade, Novi Sad and Niš – demanding the release of arrested demonstrators and calling for early parliamentary elections.

The unrest follows months of growing public dissatisfaction with the government, which resulted in another mass rally on June 28 – Vidovdan, a Serbian national and religious holiday – when an estimated 140,000 people gathered in Belgrade.

Tensions escalated that evening when protesters attempted to approach the presidency, where a pro-government encampment had been set up. Police responded with batons, tear gas and stun grenades. The resulting clashes left dozens injured, including police officers, and led to the arrest of 77 protesters.

Videos circulating on social media this week show police forcefully breaking up road blockades. In one widely shared clip from July 1 in the Belgrade neighbourhood of Konjarnik, officers are seen detaining a man and dragging him along the street. Protest organisers allege that another detainee was beaten unconscious in custody and later taken to an emergency medical centre.

Students accuse the police of using excessive force to clear the blockades, which continued into Wednesday in Belgrade and other regions of the country.

While the protest movement has drawn broad public support, some citizens have expressed frustration with the disruptions, which have made daily life difficult – particularly during a heatwave, with temperatures expected to exceed 37°C this week.

Now entering its ninth month, the protest movement reflects the waning authority and popularity of the ruling Serbian Progressive Party. The fate of President Aleksandar Vucic hangs in the balance. Though he has so far adopted a wait-and-see approach, the protests show no signs of abating.

Calling early elections to escape the crisis would be a risky move. Earlier election tactics, media manipulation and alleged voter fraud may not work like they have in the past. At the same time, a harsh crackdown akin to those seen in other parts of Eastern Europe in recent decades would alienate Serbia’s key international patron – the European Union.