Students awaken hope: mass protests in Kragujevac!

Students awaken hope: mass protests in Kragujevac!

On Saturday, violent protests against corruption and for more government reforms broke out in the Serbian city of Kragujevac. On the occasion of Serbia's National Day, thousands of students and citizens from all over the country poured into the streets and blocked the city's main artery. This is the third multi-day demonstration in Serbia, following previous mass protests in Belgrade and Novi Sad oe24.at reported.

Overall, people have been demonstrating against corruption for months and are demanding more transparency from the government. The protest in Kragujevac was supported by hundreds of students from Belgrade, Novi Sad and Nis, who had walked into the city four days earlier and received an enthusiastic welcome. 50-year-old Vladimir Petrovic, who distributed bread and cakes during the protests, said that the students had awakened Serbia from apathy and given it new hope. Their symbol, a bloody handprint, is emblazoned on numerous posters and flags and illustrates the urgency of the concerns that are of great importance to the demonstrators. ORF.at added that the accident on November 1, when the canopy of the newly renovated main train station in Novi Sad collapsed, claiming 15 lives, is seen as the trigger for the ongoing protests.

Political reactions

Although recently resigned Prime Minister Milos Vucevic has called for rapprochement with the demonstrators, this does not seem to be weakening the protest movement. President Aleksandar Vucic responded inconsistently, calling for dialogue while also blaming Western interference and neighboring countries for the protests. Protesters will continue to try to raise their voices and demand accountability from the government.