Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić pledged late on Wednesday to restore order and detain “all those who tried to plunge Serbia into civil war” after violent clashes in Novi Sad left more than 60 people injured and civil unrest was reported in multiple other cities.
Speaking after touring protest sites in Belgrade and Pioneers Park, Vučić accused demonstrators of carrying out coordinated assaults on the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) offices with poles, stones, and other weapons.
The violence erupted amid months of nationwide student-led protests sparked by the November collapse of a train station canopy in Novi Sad that killed 16 people. Demonstrators have accused the government of corruption and mismanagement, demanded the resignation of Interior Minister Ivica Dačić, and called for early parliamentary elections.
Pro-government supporters have organized counterdemonstrations in recent weeks, heightening tensions.
🇷🇸 Huge civil unrest in Serbia this evening as anti-government protests spiral out of control.
🔥 Rioters attacked government offices
‼️ More than 60 people have been seriously injured
👊 People beaten while trying to protect their homes
"What they did tonight is a multiple… pic.twitter.com/3Fr99GzHdb
— Remix News & Views (@RMXnews) August 13, 2025“Tonight is a difficult evening for the citizens of Serbia,” Vučić said. “What is important is that, thanks to the wisdom, tolerance, and patience of a huge number of citizens, we have miraculously managed to preserve peace for now.”
The Serbian president said that in Novi Sad alone, around 1,695 protesters staged “concentrated attacks” on the SNS building on Bulevar Oslobođenja, leaving dozens “spitting blood” and in need of medical attention. He claimed that a “catastrophic scenario” was avoided only because police and citizens refrained from using weapons in response.
“These people would not retreat,” he said of the ruling party supporters, “they opposed the beaters and blockaders.”
Calling the events “a well-organized attack” unlike anything Serbia has seen, Vučić vowed to apprehend those responsible overnight and in the days to come.
“There will be no mercy for thugs, hooligans, and bullies,” he said. “We will prevent any of their desires from leading us to civil conflicts and endangering the security and peace in our country.”
Interior Minister Dačić confirmed that several citizens and police officers were injured in multiple cities, including Lazarevac and Kraljevo. In Novi Sad, one police officer was among the wounded.
The unrest comes as Serbia pursues European Union membership while maintaining strong ties with Russia and China.
Protests have drawn hundreds of thousands across the country, posing a significant challenge to Vučić’s decade-long grip on the country.
