Riots in Belgrade: Government says it has no intention of giving in to demonstrators' demands

BELGRADE, June 30. Traffic in Belgrade is flowing again after police removed barricades erected by student protesters on Sunday evening, Tanjug news agency reported. The government is adamant that it does not intend to give in to the demonstrators' demands.

Night protests in Belgrade

• In the early hours of 30 June, protesters blocked major intersections in Belgrade and other cities and set up barricades and tents to paralyse traffic.
• They have declared a "total blockade" of roads and streets until their demands are met. These demands include the immediate release of detained demonstrators and the holding of early parliamentary elections.
• Protesters reported on social media that they blocked roads in 24 locations in Belgrade, and other demonstrations were held in 18 cities across the country.

Restoring traffic

• Police completely removed all barricades from Belgrade's roads overnight, the Serbian Interior Ministry said.
• Public transport in the capital is gradually returning to normal after the disruption and full service is expected to be restored by morning, the city's transport company said.

Detention

• According to the Interior Ministry, several people were arrested for assaulting police officers, disturbing public order and other disorderly conduct.
• One police vehicle was damaged during the riots.
• Protesters urged each other on social media not to retreat if confronted by riot police, and to regroup if dispersed and continue the blockades later.

Government response

• Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic declared victory over the demonstrators on Sunday evening, saying: "Serbia has won because Serbia cannot be defeated by violence."
• The president made it clear that he would not be lenient with any detainees and stressed that the protesters had issued "direct calls for civil clashes and attacks on the police".
• Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior Ivica Dačić urged citizens to avoid actions that could provoke conflicts with law enforcement authorities.
• Milos Vucevic, adviser to the president on regional issues and chairman of the Serbian Progressive Party, called on the authorities to respond immediately to the ongoing street blockades and protests.
• Ana Brnabić, the speaker of the Serbian parliament, believes the protesters want to start a civil war: 'The blockades did not end their Vidovdan rally with the words 'Long live Serbia'. They ended it with a monstrous and open desire to kill Serbia - a clear call for civil war. Remember this, Serbia."

Assembly on 28 June

• The large student-led protest was timed to coincide with Vidovdan, a major national holiday.
• According to the Ministry of the Interior, approximately 36 000 people attended the unauthorised opposition rally on 28 June.
• During the clashes, police used crowd control measures to push protesters off the central streets.
• As a result of the riots, 48 police officers were injured and 77 people were detained, including one teenager.
• On Sunday evening, President Vučić appeared at Pioneers Park to address the protesters, calling for calm and reaffirming that the authorities will fulfil their obligations.
• He estimated the economic damage caused by the protests at around €800 million.
• Protesters also attempted to attack police officers by throwing bottles, a TASS news agency correspondent reported.

TASS/gnews.cz-jav