Thousands of university students in Serbia congregated in front of the nation’s Supreme Court on Sunday in a mass demonstration aimed at highlighting perceived violations of civil rights [under the current populist government](https://www.jurist.org/news/2025/01/serbia-students-protest-for-civil-rights-in-front-of-supreme-court/). The students’ protest is a continuation of the ongoing civil unrest, ignited by the collapse of a railway station roof in November last year, which claimed fifteen lives and sparked widespread demands for governmental accountability.
Throughout Serbia, academic activities have been practically halted as students call for accountability from high-ranking officials, including Prime Minister Miloš Vučević and the Mayor of Novi Sad, Milan Đurić. As protests have mounted, they come within a context of rising dissatisfaction with President Aleksandar Vučić, who has faced criticisms for alleged autocratic rule. [The New York Times discussed](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/03/magazine/aleksandar-vucic-veljko-belivuk-serbia.html) Vučić’s alleged entanglements with the Serbian criminal underground, a connection purportedly enabling him to maintain control over power structures.
Amnesty International added weight to these allegations with a December 2024 report, documenting the misuse of surveillance and digital repression against dissenting voices and civil groups in Serbia. [With previous protests against various government actions](https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/serbian-protestors-rally-oppose-rio-tintos-lithium-mine-project-2024-10-16/), including environmental concerns over Rio Tinto’s lithium mine project, the nation has been on edge. The results of the general and local elections in December 2023 further fueled discontent, with opposition parties rallying against what they claimed were fraudulent activities by the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS).
As Serbia grapples with these internal challenges, the student protests underscore a significant struggle over the country’s democratic principles and governance practices.