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Thousands Continue Protests in Serbia Despite Vucic’s Resignation Announcement

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Thousands of people gathered in the Serbian city of Kraljevo on Sunday, continuing nationwide anti-government protests a day after President Aleksandar Vucic announced he would step down within weeks, paving the way for early presidential and parliamentary elections. While many protesters welcomed the announcement, they expressed concern that Vucic could retain influence by seeking the post of prime minister and backing a close ally for the presidency.

The protests began after the deadly collapse of a railway station canopy in Novi Sad in late 2024, which claimed 16 lives and sparked widespread public anger over alleged government corruption and mismanagement. Demonstrators carrying Serbian flags and banners reading “Students are winning” marched peacefully, calling for political change and greater accountability. Vucic has denied allegations of corruption.

The developments are being closely watched by both the European Union and Russia, given Serbia’s strategic position and its balancing of relations with both sides. The EU has urged Serbia to uphold democratic standards, strengthen judicial independence, improve press freedom and ensure fair elections as part of its bid to join the bloc. Protesters say their movement is about securing lasting institutional reforms rather than simply replacing political leaders.

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Heatwave Grips Italy and Balkans as Wildfire Risk Intensifies Across Europe

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A record-breaking heatwave continued to grip Italy and several Balkan countries on Monday, triggering red weather alerts, raising the threat of wildfires, and disrupting daily life across Europe. Italy placed 22 cities under the highest heat warning, while Croatia issued red alerts for Zagreb, Split and Dubrovnik as firefighters battled a major blaze on the Adriatic island of Vis. Serbia and Albania also faced soaring temperatures and wildfire concerns as the extreme weather persisted.

Scientists say the heatwave, which began on June 20, has become one of the most severe ever recorded in Europe. France has reported around 1,000 excess deaths linked to the prolonged heat, mostly among older people, while experts warn temperatures are expected to climb again in early July across France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Switzerland and parts of Britain. Researchers also said the unprecedented heat would have been virtually impossible without the influence of human-caused climate change.

The extreme conditions have strained healthcare systems, disrupted power generation and damaged infrastructure across the continent. Tragic incidents linked to the heat were also reported over the weekend, including the deaths of two children found inside a hot car in Cyprus and two cyclists who collapsed during a marathon event in Poland, where temperatures reached a record 40.5°C. Authorities across Europe continue to urge people to avoid prolonged exposure to the heat as wildfire risks remain high.

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Parents of Serbian Mass School Shooter Sentenced to Long Prison Terms After Belgrade Retrial

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In a landmark retrial in Belgrade, a Serbian court has sentenced the parents of a teenage boy who shot and killed nine children and a security guard at the Vladislav Ribnikar elementary school in May 2023. The father, Vladimir Kecmanović, was sentenced to 14 years and six months in prison for public safety offenses, including failing to secure his weapons and training his son to handle firearms. The mother, Miljana Kecmanović, received a prison term of two years and 11 months for the neglect and abuse of a minor. Because the shooter was only 13 years old at the time of the massacre, he remains under the age of criminal responsibility and is currently being held in a psychiatric facility.

The tragic 2023 shooting, during which the boy fired 66 bullets in just over two minutes, stunned Serbia—a nation where mass shootings were historically rare and school gun violence was entirely unheard of. The disaster, which was followed just days later by another separate drive-by mass killing near Belgrade, sparked massive national protests and prompted the Serbian government to implement a sweeping gun amnesty alongside significantly stricter firearm regulations. Legal representatives for the victims’ families described the protracted legal process as a long and exhausting fight for justice that has deeply impacted the entire country.

This latest ruling follows a November 2025 decision by the Belgrade Court of Appeal to overturn the initial 2024 verdicts due to unclear and contradictory reasoning, which forced the retrial that began in January. Despite the new sentences, the legal battle is set to continue as both the prosecution and defense teams have already lodged appeals against the jail terms. Defense attorneys argued that the state failed to provide definitive expert testimony proving neglect, while the chief prosecutor maintained that holding the parents accountable is vital for how Serbian society heals from one of the most tragic events in its peacetime history.

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Kushner Exit From Serbia Project Raises Investment Concerns, Says Ruling Party

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Serbia risks losing vital foreign investment following the decision by Jared Kushner’s firm, Affinity Global Development, to withdraw from a major luxury real estate project in Belgrade, according to an official from the country’s ruling party. Milos Vucevic, head of the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), warned that the move sends a negative signal to international investors and could benefit other Balkan nations instead.

Affinity Global Development had planned to build a large-scale complex including a hotel, apartments, offices and retail spaces on the site of the former Yugoslav army headquarters in central Belgrade, under a 99-year lease agreement signed last year. However, the project faced strong public opposition, with critics arguing the site should be preserved as a memorial for victims of the 1999 NATO bombing. The plans also became entangled in a corruption investigation linked to the removal of the buildings’ protected status.

Vucevic said protests and political pressure ultimately discouraged investors, claiming the withdrawal reflects poorly on Serbia’s investment climate. He added that Kushner is instead pursuing a separate development project in Albania. Serbian prosecutors last week indicted three officials, including a minister, over alleged illegal actions that enabled the project to move forward. Affinity Global Development has not commented, and there is no indication of wrongdoing by Kushner or his firm.

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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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