(15 Mar 2025)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
++NIGHT SHOTS++
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Belgrade, Serbia – 15 March 2025
1. Pan shot from protesters to riot police on the street
2. Protesters chanting "Arrest Vucic!”
3. Various of riot police on the street
4. SOUNDBITE (Serbian) Svetlana Muro, Belgrade resident:
"I want to express my full support for young people who are fighting for freedom in this country. Today’s protest was completely peaceful until Mr. President (Aleksandar Vucic) and his obedient (supporters) sent their provocateurs to cause incidents and possible bloodshed.”
5. Protesters jumping and chanting
6. SOUNDBITE (Serbian) Luka Saric, student:
”Students have finished their protest, but there are still lots of people on the street. We expect that this will continue. Many people were in Belgrade today. We will go until the end.”
7. People and police vehicles on the street
8. Top shot of protesters on the street
9. Various of lit flares inside the park in front of the presidency building
10. Protesters with flares on the street
11. Police retreating
STORYLINE:
At least 100,000 people descended on Belgrade on Saturday for a mass rally seen as a culmination of months-long protests against Serbia’s populist President Aleksandar Vucic and his government.
Large crowds of flag-waving protesters clogged the downtown area of the capital despite occasional rain, with people hardly able to move and many stuck hundreds of meters away from the planned protest venue.
Police said the crowd reached 107,000 people with no major incidents reported.
Serbian independent media described the rally as the biggest ever in the country, saying the numbers were much higher.
All public transport in Belgrade was cancelled as protesters streamed into the city from various directions.
The rally was part of a nationwide anti-corruption movement that erupted after a concrete canopy collapsed at a train station in Serbia’s north in November, killing 15 people.
Almost daily demonstrations that started in response to the tragedy have shaken Vucic’s firm grip on power in Serbia like never before in the past 13 years in charge.
Many in Serbia blamed the crash on rampant government corruption, negligence and disrespect of construction safety regulations, demanding accountability for the victims.
Saturday’s rally was dubbed “15 for 15,” referring to the date of the protest and the number of people killed in the city of Novi Sad on Nov. 1.
The crowds fell silent for 15 minutes in the evening to honor the victims.
Ahead of the demonstration, Vucic repeatedly warned of alleged plans for unrest while threatening arrests and harsh sentences for any incidents.
AP video by Eldar Emric and Vojislav Stjepanovic
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