Police clash with anti-government protesters in Serbia over student expulsion
Associated Press3 days
Police and Protesters Clash in Serbia After Students Evicted From University
Above: The Serbian flag atop the Serbian Government building in Belgrade, Serbia, on June 1, 2025. Image copyright: Danil Shamkin/NurPhoto/Getty Images
The Spin
Pro-government narrative
Responding to the university’s request to restore order and ensure public safety, the police conducted themselves with professionalism and restraint. Despite this, violent protesters launched projectiles, injuring several officers, including the department's police chief. The state will ensure that those involved in these attacks face prosecution for their disgraceful actions.
Government-critical narrative
The attack on protesters at Novi Pazar demonstrates the crushing levels of oppression that have become the norm in Serbia. Since November, the government has deployed a wave of draconian tactics to quell dissent, from violent crackdowns to intimidation and surveillance. The international community must take drastic action to stop the dismantling of Serbia’s civil rights.