Tens of thousands of Serbians swarmed the streets of the capital Belgrade in preparation for major anti-government rallies planned to take place over the weekend against populist President Aleksandar Vučić.
Serbia’s capital, Belgrade, was on edge on Friday night as thousands of people participated in a “joyful prelude” protest to a major anti-government rally on the weekend against President Aleksandar Vucic.
Serbians came out to welcome thousands of university students who converged on Belgrade from across the country for the rally planned for Saturday.
Saturday’s protest is regarded as a culmination of months of anti-graft demonstrations in the Balkan country that have posed the biggest challenge so far for Vucic’s decade-long firm grip on power in Serbia.
Protesters waved flags, chanted slogans and lit up flares and fireworks in the downtown streets of Belgrade. The image painted a contrast to weeks of fear-mongering spread by Vucic’s populists with an aim to dissuade people from attending Saturday’s rally.
The autocratic leader has repeatedly warned that violence is planned at the rally and threatened arrests over any incidents. Vucic supporters have been camping in the city centre, further fuelling fears of clashes with security forces.
Vucic warned and reiterated claims that Western intelligence services were behind the protests that aim to oust him from power.
“I do not accept blackmail, I will not agree to pressure, I am the president of Serbia and I won’t allow the street to set the rules,” Vucic said.
Students have led the nationwide anti-graft movement, which started after a concrete canopy collapsed at a train station and killed 15 people in Serbia’s north more than four months ago.
Earlier, police detained six opposition activists on suspicion of “preparing actions against the constitutional order and security” a day after an alleged recording of their meeting was broadcast on pro-government television stations on Thursday.
“The Serbian state will do everything to secure peace,” Vucic said. “Those disrupting peace will be arrested and severely punished.”
Previous student-led rallies in other Serbian cities have been peaceful while drawing huge crowds.
In Belgrade, tensions soared after Vucic’s supporters, including former paramilitary fighters, set up a camp in a park outside the presidency building. Tractors were parked around the camp on Friday.
Authorities said that the parliament building across the street would be locked for the next three days because of security reasons. Railway traffic was suspended, along with many bus links to Belgrade.
Responding to tensions, the European Union’s mission in Serbia said on Friday that “freedom of assembly is a fundamental right” and the safety of participants and institutions must be ensured. “Violence must be avoided,” warned the EU.
Serbia is formally seeking EU membership, but the governing populists have been accused of stifling democratic freedoms while strengthening relations with Russia and China.
