Belgrade protests turn violent, police fire tear gas as crowd demands president's resignation

Lead

Tens of thousands of demonstrators filled Belgrade's Slavija Square on Saturday, May 23, 2026, in the latest eruption of a protest movement that began a year and a half ago. The demonstration, which demanded early elections and an end to President Aleksandar Vucic's rule, turned violent in the evening as police fired tear gas and clashed with protesters in central Belgrade. The Interior Ministry reported that dozens of people were detained, and several police officers were injured.

Coverage Comparison

Reporting on the events varies notably across sources, reflecting different editorial priorities and access. The Jerusalem Post, drawing on Reuters wire reports, emphasized the scale of the protest and its confrontational aspects, describing clashes near the presidency building and the use of tear gas and stun grenades. It quoted Interior Minister Ivica Dacic confirming 23 detentions and noted that some police officers were injured, though no specifics were provided.

TASS, the Russian state news agency, published two pieces: one focused on the immediate aftermath of the clashes, also citing the Interior Ministry's figure of 23 detainees, and a second summary piece that reported a higher detention count—47 people—and detailed injuries to 17 law enforcement officers, citing Dacic's comments to Prva TV. TASS also reported that Vucic, while visiting China, said he could resign as his term is about to expire—a statement not mentioned in the Jerusalem Post's account.

Both TASS articles attributed the protests to the November 1, 2024 canopy collapse at the Novi Sad railway station that killed 16 people, while the Jerusalem Post framed the demonstrations as part of a broader anti-corruption movement triggered by the same tragedy.

Key Claims

• Protest scale: Approximately 34,000 people participated in the rally on Slavija Square, according to the Serbian Interior Ministry (as cited by TASS). The Jerusalem Post described "tens of thousands" without a specific figure.

• Detentions: Interior Minister Ivica Dacic said 23 people were detained, a figure reported by both the Jerusalem Post and TASS in its first article. A later TASS report cited Dacic as saying 47 people were detained. The discrepancy remains unresolved.

• Police injuries: TASS reported that 17 law enforcement officers were injured, citing Dacic. The Jerusalem Post noted injuries but did not specify numbers.

• Protesters' tactics: Both sources reported that protesters threw bottles, stones, and pyrotechnics at police, and set trash cans on fire. The Jerusalem Post also mentioned the use of stun grenades by police.

• Protest symbols: The Jerusalem Post reported that some protesters wore badges with red hands reading "Your hands are bloody"—a detail not included in TASS's coverage.

• Vucic's possible resignation: TASS reported that Vucic said he could resign as his term expires, made during a visit to China. This statement has not been independently confirmed by other sources.

• Root cause: All sources agree that the protests were sparked by the Novi Sad railway canopy collapse that killed 16 people in November 2024, with demonstrators accusing authorities of corruption and mismanagement.

• Election timeline: TASS reported that Vucic announced parliamentary elections would be held between late September and mid-November 2026.

Perspectives

The protests represent a sustained challenge to President Vucic's decade-long rule, with student-led movements demanding accountability after the Novi Sad disaster. Pro-government supporters have camped near the National Assembly since March 2025, according to the Jerusalem Post, creating a visible counter-mobilization.

Authorities have attributed the violence to a minority of protesters and defended police actions as necessary to maintain order. Interior Minister Dacic emphasized that protesters used dangerous objects against officers, while Vucic's comments about possible resignation—reported by TASS but not other outlets—suggest a potential political shift, though it remains uncertain how credible these statements are.

International reactions have been limited in the provided coverage. The situation continues to develop, with train services suspended and tensions high.

This article will be updated as more information becomes available.