Serbia has been plunged into its most severe political unrest in years, with protesters attacking government and ruling party offices, sparking fiery clashes with police across the country. What began as outrage over corruption allegations and tragic infrastructure failures has now spiraled into a broader confrontation between President Aleksandar Vucic’s government and opposition movements. The latest wave of violence has raised fears of instability, with Belgrade accusing foreign powers of fueling the unrest and outside actors weighing in with warnings of further consequences.

The protests, initially led by student groups, erupted in 2024 following the deadly collapse of a railway station roof in Novi Sad, which killed 16 people. The disaster was widely seen as a symbol of government negligence and corruption. Demonstrators quickly demanded accountability, early elections, and an end to what they described as a culture of impunity within the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS).

While demonstrations initially took the form of peaceful marches and vigils, frustrations have increasingly boiled over into violent confrontations. On August 13, 2025, tensions escalated dramatically in Valjevo, about 100 kilometers west of Belgrade, after videos of police using heavy-handed tactics against protesters circulated online. Outrage over the footage sparked rallies in several cities, which soon descended into chaos.

Masked demonstrators hurled stones and flares at the SNS offices, smashing windows before setting them ablaze. Videos shared on social media showed flames engulfing parts of the building before firefighters brought the situation under control. In........

© Blitz