Belgrade, Serbia (AP) – Hundreds of student protesters have blocked the building of Serbian public television stations in Belgrade as tensions have skyrocketed during the Balkan state era ahead of a massive weekend-planned rally billed at the end of the anti-government demonstrations.
Students first blocked a Belgrade television building in central Serbia's capital. Late Monday, hundreds gathered again on Tuesday. A similar lockdown was organized in the city of Novi Sad, the second largest in the country.
Serbian university students are behind the almost daily rally that began after a concrete canopy crashed at Novi Sad's train station in November. The protest took away President Alexander Vicz's populist rule and his solid power.
During Monday's lockdown, riot police temporarily intervened in the baton against the crowd, attempting to block one of the entrances to the television building with a metal security fence. At least one mediocre police officer was injured in a skirmish, according to video footage released on social media.
Students blame public television for bias and surveillance between VUCIC and the government during demonstrations. The Serbian president was a guest on the Main TV Breaking News Monday evening.
During the interview, Vucic humiliated the student-led protest and warned security forces to use force against participants in the large gathering planned on Saturday. He pledged to never step down due to a massive nationwide demonstration.
“If you want to replace me, you'll have to kill me,” he said.
A television reporter interviewing VUCIC called the protesting students a “mob,” and appeared to be endorsed by the president. The station's RTS issued a statement denounced the lockdown.
“Forcing RTS employees to come to the workplace represents a dangerous step towards public conflict with unpredictable outcomes.”
Several of the television station's employees were able to enter the building through the entrance to the obviously unseen side, allowing the program to continue uninterrupted.
Meanwhile, Vucic met with President Donald Trump Jr., the eldest son of President Donald Trump, who arrived in Belgrade on Tuesday. The purpose of his visit was not immediately known. Pro-Russia Vucic is a voice supporter of the US president.
Many Serbia believe that the construction of huge concrete has fallen due to inadequate renovations promoted by government corruption. The students argued for full accountability for the tragedy. This is a call that has attracted widespread support among citizens who have been largely disillusioned with politicians and have lost faith in national institutions.
The student-led rally attracts tens of thousands of people, making it the largest in Serbia in history and has a long history of anti-government protests. Vucic describes the assembly as a Western-style ploy to drive him out of power.
The next big rally is planned for Belgrade on Saturday, with Vucic claiming that protesters “will try to achieve something with violence, that will be the end.” Many protesters will “end behind the bar accused of criminal conduct,” he added.
All student-led protests in the past few months have been peaceful, but incidents have been documented when the enemy pushed cars to blockade or attacked protesters.
Vucic and his right-wing Serbian progressive party have been in power in Serbia for more than a decade despite officially sought Serbian entry into the European Union.
Authorities have charged 16 people for the collapse of the canopy, but many suspect that the actual perpetrators face justice.
