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Mass anti-government protests against corruption hit Russia ally Serbia

The student-led protest poses the greatest threat to the 14-year power of Serbian strongman Alexanderwük, bringing over 100,000 people to Serbia's Belgrade and urban towns, calling for systemic corruption across the government.

On March 15th, an estimated 300,000 people marched into the heart of Belgrade, seeing what many believe to be the largest crowd in Serbia's recent history.

Serbian President Vicz, who remains close to Russia, has ignored calls for resignation, and has denounced calls to condemn the protests for planning violent attacks and struggling the civil war.

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The student-led protest poses the greatest threat to the 14-year power of Serbian strongman Alexanderwük, bringing over 100,000 people to Serbia's Belgrade and urban towns, calling for systemic corruption across the government. (Darko Vojinovic/AP Photo)

“Moscow and Belgrade have committed to fighting the revolution of colour in 2021, which is dangerous as Russia can provide Serbia with support for the Intelligence Report,” Ivana Stradner, a researcher at the Democracy Foundation, told Fox News Digital.

“Vucic hopes that the protests in Serbia will be stopped, but they are growing more and more,” added Stradner.

Vucic denounced students for coordinating the Western-backed “revolution of colours” and compared Ukrainian moves with the 2014 Euromaidan revolution when Ukrainian pro-Lussia was banished from power for a close ties with Vladimir Putin with Europe.

Non-governmental and civil society organisations have accused the government of using illegal weapons, including long-range acoustic devices (LRAD), a common crowd control device that could cause severe hearing loss, during the commemorative silence of victims of the Novi Sad railway collapse in November.

“The Belgrade Centre for Security Policy has strongly condemned the illegal and inhumane deployment of prohibited weapons, such as acoustic devices.

Serbia's protest

Tens of thousands of university students have been marching since December, demanding justice and accountability after the deaths of 15 people in the collapse of the Serbian town of Novi Sad. (Igor Pavicevic/Reuters)

Serbian Foreign Minister Marco Julik denied the allegations in a post on X.

“Serbia has firmly denied the unfounded accusation that illegal weapons, including so-called “sound cannons,” were used against Belgrade demonstrators,” Jurik said.

President Vucic also denied the claim, calling it a “despicable lie” in his speech to the nation, and promised to investigate the issue.

The protests consuming Serbia did not occur overnight and have been maintained for several months.

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Tens of thousands of university students have been marching since December, demanding justice and accountability after the deaths of 15 people in the collapse of the Serbian town of Novi Sad. The station canopy collapsed on November 1st after renovations led by two Chinese companies.

What originally began as a voluntary protest, expressed dissatisfaction with the government's failed response to the railway catastrophe, has turned into a move against widespread corruption and the erosion of the rule of law under Vokic.

Serbia's protest

What originally began as a voluntary protest, expressed dissatisfaction with the government's failed response to the railway catastrophe, has turned into a move against widespread corruption and the erosion of the rule of law under Vokic. (Mitar Mitrovic/Reuters)

“It's also important to recognize that the source of protests runs deeper. Many people perceive the nation as corrupt and are widely dissatisfied with Vicicz's government. They are seeking greater freedom of press and accountability.”

Ivanov said the government's attempts to alleviate the situation of arresting individuals involved in corrupt transactions years ago, or arresting individuals involved in the prime minister's resignation in January are seen as too little or too late by protesters and opposition politicians.

Snapped between Europe and Russia, Serbia has been one step closer to normalizing relations with Kosovo

Many experts and observers in the Balkan Peninsula were disappointed by the Biden administration's regional policy and claimed that the administration had abandoned the Vouck administration and refused to invoke his anti-ethnic practices. Efforts to shake up Vucic and maintain close ties with Belgrade were seen as essential to the normalization process of Serbia and Kosovo and the European Union's path to ascension.

Serbian president speaks to his country in front of the microphone

Serbian President Vicz, who remains close to Russia, has ignored calls for resignation, and has denounced calls to condemn the protests for planning violent attacks and struggling the civil war. (Milos Miskov/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

A former high-ranking diplomat with expertise in the Balkans told Fox News Digital that Viuch is mistakenly portraying the protesters as inspired and led by the “globalist elite” in hoping to gain the attention and support of President Trump.

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If President Trump wants a quick and cheap victory for the Balkans and the United States, diplomats have said Trump should change the US regional stance from restraining Vokic to include him. This stance in Serbia shows that the US is not making any jokes in the Balkans and wants a peaceful solution that boils competition, taking advantage of its doctrine “through strength through peace”;

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