Massive rally in Belgrade backs student movement ahead of Sunday vote
A large crowd gathered in central Belgrade on Thursday night to support Serbia's student movement, which seeks to end the ruling SNS party's grip before the upcoming election.
Why it matters
The protest signals rising opposition momentum ahead of a crucial national election in Serbia.
How this story developed
- Oct 9 New pro-Russia Serbian party emerges ahead of parliamentary elections
- Oct 13 Students protesting outside Tirana's Ministry of Education clashed with police, who responded with tear gas and water cannon.
- Oct 15 Prime Minister Edi Rama accused opposition groups of orchestrating the demonstrations.
- Oct 15 Rama issued a written statement refusing to resign as protests entered a third day.
- Oct 17 Police reported about 500 detainees, with 330 released, and injuries to roughly 120 officers and 45 protesters.
- Oct 19 Serbian‑Russian Unity party was launched ahead of the early parliamentary election.
- Oct 19 Injuries rose to 272, with 169 police officers hurt, and fires were set at a police station and the Interior Ministry entrance.
- Oct 21 Rama announced a €2,500 bonus for frontline police officers.
- Oct 22 Student activists met residents in Požarevac, hearing stories of joblessness while distributing campaign material.
In this story
student movementBelgrade rallySerbian electionSNSStudentlistantrain station collapseprotestpolitical change
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