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Serbia Approves Disputed Trump-Linked Development Amid Public Outcry

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Serbia’s parliament has passed legislation enabling a controversial luxury hotel and apartment project in Belgrade led by Jared Kushner’s firm, Affinity Partners. The planned $500m (£380m) development would replace the former Yugoslav Army headquarters — a site heavily damaged during NATO’s 1999 intervention and regarded by many as a national memorial. Despite protests, legal concerns, and the site’s symbolic value, the government moved forward after removing its protected status and agreeing to grant a 99-year lease to the US investment group.

Critics, including opposition lawmakers and architectural experts, argue the decision is unconstitutional and risks erasing a painful chapter of Serbian history for political gains. Demonstrators fear the landmark will be replaced with commercial attractions like casinos and luxury amenities, while anti-corruption organisations have questioned the transparency behind the project’s approval process.

President Aleksandar Vucic defended the move as essential to “overcome the burden from 1999” and strengthen ties with the US, even as Serbia continues balancing its relations with both Washington and Moscow. The project’s revival also surfaces reports that Donald Trump had previously eyed investments in Belgrade, though Kushner has distanced himself from any past plans.

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Serbian Football Mourns Coach Mladen Zizovic After Sudden Pitchside Collapse

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Serbian football has been left in shock following the sudden death of FK Radnicki 1923 head coach Mladen Zizovic, who collapsed during his team’s Serbian SuperLiga match against Mladost Lucani on Monday. Despite immediate medical attention and being rushed to hospital, the 44-year-old’s passing was confirmed before half-time, leading to players breaking down in tears and the match being abandoned.

Zizovic, a former Bosnia and Herzegovina international, had only taken charge of Radnicki 1923 last month, but quickly earned respect for his leadership and character. His club paid tribute, describing him as not only a talented professional but also a “good man and friend” who left a deep impact on everyone around him.

The football community across Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina has expressed profound grief, with national associations and leading clubs such as Red Star Belgrade offering heartfelt condolences. Tributes praised Zizovic’s rich playing career—including stints with top Bosnian clubs—and his dedication to coaching, marking his passing as a significant loss to regional football.

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Clashes Erupt in Serbia as Protesters Demand Justice and Snap Elections

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Hundreds of anti-government demonstrators clashed with supporters of Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić late Sunday, marking a tense escalation near the anniversary of a deadly roof collapse that killed 16 people. The tragedy, which occurred during the renovation of a railway station in Novi Sad, has fueled months of youth-led protests over alleged corruption and government mismanagement.

The weekend saw rallies across Belgrade and Novi Sad, with protesters demanding accountability and justice for the victims. Tensions flared near the Serbian parliament in Belgrade, where demonstrators gathered in solidarity with Dijana Hrka, a grieving mother on hunger strike whose son died in the collapse. Supporters of Vučić, stationed in a fenced-off area outside the parliament since March, confronted the protesters as both sides exchanged flares, prompting police intervention.

According to the Interior Ministry, at least 37 individuals were arrested for violating public order and participating in unauthorized gatherings. The confrontations have rattled the government and intensified calls for snap elections, as citizens continue to demand transparency and justice over the unpunished disaster.

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Clashes Erupt Between Ruling Party Supporters and Anti-Government Protesters in Serbia

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Supporters of Serbia’s ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) clashed with anti-government protesters in Novi Sad on Wednesday evening, throwing flares and firecrackers, prompting police intervention to end the standoff. The incident marked a sharp escalation in the nine-month-long protests sparked by the deaths of 16 people when the roof of a renovated railway station in Novi Sad collapsed last November. The demonstrations have eroded support for populist President Aleksandar Vucic and the SNS, which has ruled for 13 years.

At a late-night press conference, Vucic, alongside Interior Minister Ivica Dacic, said 16 police officers and around 60 SNS supporters were injured in Novi Sad, accusing unidentified foreign powers of orchestrating unrest. Footage from N1 TV showed flares and firecrackers hurled from the direction of SNS offices and protesters with bloodied faces claiming they were attacked with sticks and truncheons. Opposition groups, including the Move-Change movement, blamed Vucic’s loyalists for the violence, calling it a violation of the right to life and peaceful protest.

In Belgrade, police in riot gear blocked protesters from approaching SNS camps near the parliament, while clashes also erupted outside local party offices in several cities. Protest leaders, largely students, have accused the government of corruption, ties to organized crime, and curbing media freedoms—allegations officials deny. They are demanding early elections in hopes of ending SNS’s long hold on power. The latest unrest follows injuries sustained by protesters in the town of Vrbas on Tuesday, prompting calls for nationwide demonstrations outside SNS offices.

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Massive Student-Led Protests Sweep Belgrade Over Corruption Allegations

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Thousands of protesters, mainly students, flooded Serbia’s capital on Friday ahead of a massive anti-government rally over the weekend. Many traveled hundreds of miles on foot or by bike to protest against President Aleksandar Vucic’s administration, which they blame for corruption and mismanagement. The demonstrations were sparked by the deaths of 15 people in a railway station collapse in Novi Sad last November, a disaster critics say was a result of government negligence.

The protesters, cheered by supporters waving Serbian flags, marched into central Belgrade, where students from the capital laid out a red carpet for their arrival. Bikers revved their engines, and passing cars honked in support. Authorities anticipate up to 80,000 demonstrators, though organizers claim the number will be much higher. Meanwhile, Vucic’s loyalists set up camp near his office, surrounding it with tractors in a show of support. The president has urged police restraint but warned that those threatening public order will be arrested.

In response to mounting pressure, the government has launched an anti-corruption campaign and charged 13 individuals over the railway disaster. Outgoing Prime Minister Milos Vucevic stated that police would intervene if violence erupts. The protests, the largest in decades, have united students, teachers, farmers, and workers, posing a serious challenge to Vucic, who has held power for 12 years as either prime minister or president.

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Serbian Parliament Erupts in Chaos as Opposition Protests Intensify

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Serbian opposition lawmakers ignited smoke grenades and used pepper spray inside parliament on Tuesday in a dramatic protest against the government, supporting ongoing student-led demonstrations. The chaos erupted after the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) approved the legislative agenda, prompting opposition members to scuffle with security guards. Amid the mayhem, SNS lawmaker Jasmina Obradovic suffered a stroke and was hospitalized in serious condition.

The unrest follows four months of protests sparked by the collapse of a railway station roof in Novi Sad last November, which killed 15 people. Demonstrators, including students, teachers, and farmers, accuse the government of corruption and incompetence, demanding justice for the victims. Outside parliament, hundreds of protesters held a silent vigil, while inside, opposition lawmakers disrupted the session with whistles and horns, holding signs calling for a “general strike” and “justice for those killed.”

Despite calls for a transitional government to ensure fair elections, President Aleksandar Vucic and his allies have rejected the demand, alleging foreign interference in the unrest. While parliament was set to approve increased funding for universities, tensions escalated over the planned acknowledgment of Prime Minister Milos Vucevic’s resignation. The session was adjourned and is set to resume on Wednesday, as opposition leaders urged for a major rally in Belgrade on March 15.

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Serbia Threatens Euro 2024 Exit Over Fan Chants

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Serbia has threatened to withdraw from Euro 2024 due to chants between fans during the Croatia-Albania match on Wednesday, where chants about the killing of Serbians were heard during the 2-2 Group B draw. Jovan Surbatovic, the general secretary of the Serbian Football Association, called for severe sanctions from UEFA, stating, “What happened is scandalous and we will ask [European governing body] Uefa for sanctions, even if it means not continuing the competition.”

Serbia, part of Group C, lost 1-0 to England in their tournament opener on Sunday. Surbatovic expressed confidence that punishments would follow, especially after UEFA revoked the credentials of Kosovar journalist Arlind Sadiku. Sadiku made a provocative double-handed eagle gesture, symbolizing Albania’s national flag, towards Serbian fans during the England game, exacerbating tensions between Serbian nationalists and ethnic Albanians, predominantly in Kosovo.

Surbatovic demanded that UEFA sanction both federations involved, indicating Serbia’s willingness to reconsider their participation if no actions were taken. The Serbian FA also sent a letter to UEFA’s general secretary Theodore Theodoridis, condemning the “shameful joint chanting.”

The BBC reached out to UEFA for comments on the issue. Serbia was previously fined £12,250 for fan misconduct during the England match, and both Serbia and Albania faced fines for displaying nationalist banners during their opening matches.

Surbatovic claimed, “We were punished for isolated cases and our fans behaved much better than the others,” emphasizing that the actions of a single fan should not tarnish the entire Serbian fanbase. He appealed to Serbian fans to continue demonstrating gentlemanly conduct.

Serbia’s next game is against Slovenia at 14:00 BST on Thursday.

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UN Declares July 11 Day of Remembrance for Srebrenica Massacre

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United Nations member states have voted to declare July 11 an annual day of remembrance for victims of the 1995 Srebrenica massacre, despite opposition from Serbia. The proposal, brought by Germany and Rwanda, aims to establish the “International Day of Reflection and Commemoration of the 1995 Genocide in Srebrenica.” While 84 member states voted in favor, there were 19 votes against and 68 abstentions.

Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vucic opposed the resolution, claiming it was politically motivated and could unfairly label Serbia and Serbs as collectively responsible for genocide. Vucic warned that this could lead to further resolutions on other genocides, potentially including those against Serbs during WWII by the Nazi-allied regime in Croatia.

The massacre, carried out by Bosnian-Serb forces under the command of Ratko Mladic, resulted in the systematic killing of over eight thousand Bosniak Muslim men and boys. The aftermath involved attempts to hide the scale of the massacre by exhuming and redistributing bodies, complicating identification efforts. The International Commission on Missing Persons used DNA technology to identify over seven thousand victims, praising the UN resolution for its acknowledgment and commemoration.

The resolution explicitly states that genocide convictions are against individuals, not entire ethnic or religious groups. In 2007, the International Court of Justice recognized the massacre as genocide but did not hold Serbia directly responsible, though it criticized Serbia for failing to prevent it. Serbia’s National Assembly condemned the massacre in 2010, and Vucic, as prime minister in 2015, visited Srebrenica to pay respects on the 20th anniversary.

Milorad Dodik, president of Bosnia’s Republika Srpska region, and other Serb nationalists deny that genocide occurred, sometimes glorifying Mladic. Dodik threatened secession if the resolution passed but claimed victory after the vote, citing the lack of an absolute majority as evidence of failure to label Serbs as a genocidal nation. His claims, however, serve more as political posturing than an accurate reflection of the resolution’s intent.

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Serbia’s Search: Missing Two-Year-Old Girl Case Grips Nation

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Throughout the day and into the evening, individuals have been laying floral tributes in Bor’s main square, a copper-mining town in eastern Serbia, to honor Danka Ilic, a two-year-old girl who went missing. Alongside handwritten messages are cuddly toys and balloons, with votive candles flickering in remembrance. The mourners, whether local residents or from afar, express condolences to Danka’s family. Her disappearance, the subsequent search, and the tragic confirmation of her death have dominated headlines in Serbia since she vanished while playing at her grandfather’s house ten days ago.

Two men, both aged 50, are now in custody on suspicion of murder. According to police, they admitted to hitting Danka with their car but failed to seek help. Instead, they placed her in the vehicle and drove away. Details of the incident are distressing, with Danka’s father reportedly stopping the men’s car and inquiring about his daughter, unaware that she was inside the vehicle. Authorities are investigating the possibility of Danka surviving the initial impact, as evidence suggests the car was traveling at a low speed. Despite efforts to locate her body, one of the suspects allegedly moved it to another location.

The arrests dashed hopes of finding Danka alive, shifting focus to the grim task of recovering her remains. The case has drawn widespread attention both within Serbia and beyond its borders, with Interpol issuing alerts after a girl resembling Danka was spotted in Vienna. Protests planned in recent days have been called off out of respect for her family. President Aleksandar Vucic denounced those responsible as “monsters” while commending the police and the public for their efforts, emphasizing the resilience and compassion of the Serbian people.

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EU: Bosnia and Herzegovina to begin talks to join bloc

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Bosnia and Herzegovina is set to begin negotiations for EU membership, marking a significant milestone eight years after the formal application was submitted. Following a recommendation from the European Commission last week, EU leaders have approved the initiation of talks. European Council President Charles Michel extended congratulations to Bosnia and Herzegovina’s leaders, affirming their place within the European family. He emphasized the importance of continued efforts for progress, a sentiment echoed by Borjana Krišto, Chairwoman of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, who expressed gratitude for achieving the necessary compliance with EU requirements.

The approval for Bosnia’s EU talks has been welcomed as a positive development by leaders across Europe. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz hailed it as a good message for the entire region, while Croatia’s Prime Minister Andrej Plenković described it as a historic day for Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The road to EU membership has been long for Bosnia, with the country formally obtaining candidate status in 2022 after applying for membership in 2016. In the past year, Bosnia has made strides in passing laws aligned with EU priorities, particularly focusing on areas such as democracy, the rule of law, fundamental rights, and public administration reform.

Despite progress, Bosnia remains ethnically and politically divided, a legacy of the 1992-95 war. Further economic and democratic reforms will be necessary before formal EU accession can occur.

The EU’s commitment to the Western Balkans has been underscored by recent events, particularly in light of the conflict in Ukraine. Other countries in the region, including Albania, Georgia, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Turkey, and Ukraine, are also at various stages of the EU application process.

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