Europe Is Watching - How Serbia’s Protests Are Becoming a Human Rights Issue

Belgrade – Resistance is growing on the streets of the Serbian capital, and with it, Europe’s concern. What began as a peaceful protest against corruption and cronyism has, within a few days, become a symbol of political stagnation – and a human rights litmus test for President Aleksandar Vučić. The Council of Europe, Amnesty International, and the United Nations are watching Belgrade with increasing unease. Their accusation: abuse of force, arbitrary arrests, and the deliberate criminalization of students and professors who are doing nothing more than exercising their right to protest. Michael O’Flaherty, Commissioner for Human Rights at the Council of Europe, spoke in no uncertain terms. “Freedom of assembly and freedom of expression are fundamental rights of the European Convention on Human Rights, and it is Serbia’s duty to guarantee them,” he said on Friday. But this duty, he concluded, is currently being systematically violated – despite assurances to the contrary given by the government during his visit in April. Videos showing riot police beating peaceful demonstrators with batons and shields have gone viral in recent days. Four students were hospitalized on Thursday morning alone, including a young man with a broken clavicle. Serbian police deny the accusation of violence – but the images tell a different story.

The protests did not come out of nowhere. Discontent has been simmering in Serbia since November, when a newly renovated train station canopy collapsed in the northern city of Zrenjanin, killing 16 people. What the government described as a tragic accident, many Serbs see as symptomatic of a system built on cronyism, shoddy construction, and a lack of accountability. The protests reignited when Vučić refused to call new elections. Small sit-ins turned into nationwide traffic blockades – led by students, supported by professors, intellectuals, and citizens who have had enough of the erosion of democratic principles.

The state’s response: repression. Dozens of protesters have been arrested since last weekend – including minors. Police justify their actions by pointing out that traffic blockades are illegal. President Vučić went even further, calling the protests “terror” and an attempt “to overthrow the state.” Words that, in their severity, evoke memories of authoritarian regimes. O’Flaherty issued a strong warning against defaming or misrepresenting the student movement. “This movement is overwhelmingly peaceful. Any mischaracterization would further escalate an already tense situation,” said the commissioner.

The international community is responding with growing alarm. Both the EU delegation in Belgrade and the UN Human Rights Office have called for restraint. But on the streets, the conflict seems to have taken on a life of its own. Riot police clear roadblocks, only for demonstrators to return in the evening. It is a daily standoff that goes far beyond the question of new elections. It is about dignity, participation – and the future of a country that once set out to join the European Union. But that path seems more fragile than ever. While Vučić officially preaches a pro-European course, he maintains close ties with Russia and China. His critics accuse him of undermining democratic institutions, controlling the media, and tacitly tolerating corruption. He denies these claims. But the cracks in the system are becoming more visible – and the voices of those who no longer wish to remain silent are growing louder. What is raging on Serbia’s streets is not just a political conflict, but a struggle for the right to be heard. And Europe must decide whether it will merely watch – or finally act. But we’ve seen that before.