Clashes Outside Belgrade City Hall Prompt Security Measures and Police Detentions

Two police officers were seriously injured in the clashes that occurred outside Belgrade city hall, according to statements from the Serbian president during a televised interview. The president, Aleksandar Vučić, confirmed these injuries in a report to the audience on the Pink network. He added that a number of other officers sustained minor injuries as protesters hurled stones during the demonstrations. The unrest prompted a formal response from the national leadership as it escalated in the heart of the capital. In light of the violence, Vučić convened a National Security Council meeting to discuss urgent security measures for an emergency session planned for Monday night. He reported that more than 35 demonstrators had been detained, and he underscored that anyone involved in unlawful activities would be detained, regardless of where they attempted to hide. Earlier, supporters of the opposition bloc Serbia Against Violence initiated a riot and occupied the steps in front of Belgrade’s representative and executive offices. Protesters hurled paving stones at the doors and windows of the parliament building, causing damage to glass surfaces, and attempted to breach entry. Police used pepper spray in response to the aggression. By Sunday evening, law enforcement had quickly dispersed the demonstrators in front of the Belgrade administration, clearing the plaza and establishing a security cordon to restore order. In a nationwide address, President Vučić described the Belgrade protests as an attempt to strip the country of its independence and sovereignty. He reassured the public that the authorities would uphold order and safety. He also expressed gratitude for the collaboration of intelligence services from other nations that warned Serbia about the looming unrest. Vučić stated that approximately 2,500 people had gathered at the parliament building, but less than half participated in the rioting. There were reports of subsequent detentions in Kosovo, with claims that a member of Vučić’s own family was involved in earlier incidents, a detail the president did not elaborate on in this discussion. Such claims were noted in discussions surrounding the events and reflected the heightened political tensions surrounding the demonstrations.