"We won't tell you what you should do — not because we don't know [what you should do], but because you do. People should be guided by their conscience."

With these words, students in Belgrade on June 28 symbolically passed on the baton of civil resistance to the rest of Serbian society.

They did so during a protest in which they clearly formulated an ultimatum to the government: either call a snap parliamentary election or face civil disobedience.

After eight months of peaceful demonstrations, the anti-graft and anti-government protest movement has entered a new phase.

The protest on June 28 escalated into clashes between citizens and police, who spent hours removing demonstrators from the streets of the city center. Police used stun grenades, tear gas and batons in response to protesters throwing bottles and stones.

Social media platforms were quickly flooded with videos showing police officers using force — even against those putting up no resistance.

The story of Luka Mihajlovic, a student from Novi Sad, spread like wildfire: Mihajlovic was reportedly knocked down and beaten while standing calmly with his hands raised.

Because of the injuries he sustained, Mihajlovic ended up in a hospital, where — while awaiting surgery — a judge ordered him into custody without a hearing. His mother found him in the hospital handcuffed to the bed, under guard and without access to a phone.

The next day, blockades spread from Belgrade to the rest of Serbia.

Citizens spontaneously closed roads and........

© Deutsche Welle