"NE DIKTATURI"

On November 1st, 2024, the Novi Sad railway station canopy collapsed, taking lives of 16 people. This tragedy was caused by government corruption, negligence, and cronyism in construction contracts. It sparked widespread protests across Serbia, with protesters demanding accountability, resignations, and systemic reforms.

In 2025, they had spread across Serbia and universities became organizing hubs through blockades and plenary assemblies. President, Aleksandar Vučić, and his ruling SNS party dismissed protesters as extremists and “terrorists". They refused resignations and instead tightened repression, deploying riot police and loyalists.

During the protests, when protesters were attacked or injured by pro-government loyalists, the police either arrives late or stands by without intervening. They often target the protesters instead and their formal complaints about the attacks were often ignored or dismissed. Basically, they serve the government, not the people.

The methods include beatings with batons, punches, kicks, dragging protesters from university premises and head-slamming into walls. The chemical methods include tear gas, pepper sprays and stun grenades. Rubber bullets were fired at close distance, including minors, and the LRAD was also used at one point.

On March 15th, during the largest protest in Belgrade, the government allegedly used a LRAD during a 15-minute silent vigil, which was held for the victims of the Novi Sad tragedy. They denied the allegations and president Vučić called for the prosecution of those "lying" and also those "spreading disinformation".

On April 28th, at the Faculty of Sports in Novi Sad, police attempted to break a student blockade after students prevented Patrik Drid, the dean of the faculty, from entering the blocked faculty. The police used shields, batons, and pepper spray to push back students and force their way into the building.

On August 14th, Nikolina Sinđelić, was among several arrested students during the protest in Belgrade. She was slapped, slammed into a wall, called a "whore", and threatened with rape in front of others. The person who did this to her was Marko Kričak, who is the police commander in the Special Unit (JZO).

Also in August, at the Faculty of Philosophy in Novi Sad, students were expelled from their blockade by Milivoje Alanović, the dean of the faculty, and police was also deployed. Clashes involved shoving, tear gas, and stun devices, prompting legal and psychological support efforts from academic networks.

Overall, the autonomy of the universities was violated many times as authorities and faculty leaders used excessive force to suppress protests, controling access to campuses, undermining academic freedom and student governance nationwide.

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