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3 clusters · 21 sources · 9 days · First seen about 1 month ago · Last updated 27 days ago

Student and educator protests in Serbia

Overview

Student-led movements and educators in Serbia have engaged in various forms of protest regarding institutional injustices and police conduct. In Novi Sad, a photography exhibition titled ‘Osvetli i ti’ (You Light It Up Too) was held at the Jovan Jovanović Zmaj Gymnasium to highlight protests supporting teachers and students. The exhibition addressed the school’s inability to hold regular classes for nearly two years. During the event, suspended teacher Rima Grujić emphasized the duty of educators to protect students, stating, ‘You can try to take our building... you can suspend us... but one thing you cannot do—you cannot force us to renounce the truth and the children for whom we exist as teachers.’

On August 14, 2026, the student-led movement ‘Students in Blockade’ organized a protest in Valjevo titled ‘Valjevo Remembers’ to mark the one-year anniversary of violent police clashes from August 2025. Approximately 3,500 citizens participated in a march to commemorate those injured during the previous year's unrest. The Ministry of Internal Affairs reported that the gathering was unregistered and resulted in 11 detentions for violations involving weapons and identity documents. Police also seized items such as knives, telescopic batons, and radio equipment from a nearby vehicle. One participant, identified as D. H., reportedly attacked a citizen with a telescopic baton.

Following the march, controversy emerged regarding police conduct. Critics alleged that the police response was retaliatory, claiming officers remained passive during an initial attack on cordons but subsequently used force against non-resisting individuals. Conflicting reports surfaced regarding the scale of the police presence; Democratic Party leader Srđan Milivojević claimed to have seen approximately 30 police vehicles in full gear, while N1 reporters on the scene stated they did not observe Ministry of Internal Affairs members in that specific area.

Entities

Novi Sad · Valjevo · N1 · Democratic Party · Zoran Pašalić

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 4 SOURCES] Protesters in Valjevo are marking the one-year anniversary of police violence against citizens.
[● 3 SOURCES] Approximately 3,500 people attended the unregistered gathering in Valjevo.
[● 3 SOURCES] Police detained 11 individuals during the Valjevo protest for violations related to weapons and identity documents.
[● 3 SOURCES] A protest participant identified as D. H. attacked a citizen with a telescopic baton.
[● 2 SOURCES] Protests were also held in Novi Sad to mark the anniversary of clashes between citizens and police near SNS headquarters.
[○ 1 SOURCE] Legal teams representing victims filed criminal complaints against police officers in October.
[○ 1 SOURCE] Student activists organized information stands in the Pčinja district, including Bujanovac and Vranje.
[○ 1 SOURCE] Police seized items including knives, telescopic batons, and radio stations from individuals in a vehicle near Valjevo.
[○ 1 SOURCE] Approximately 60 citizens sought medical assistance at the Valjevo Health Center following the 2025 incidents.
[○ 1 SOURCE] The Ombudsman's office has an ongoing investigation into the police conduct in Valjevo.

Timeline

27 days ago

[POLITICS] 2 sources
Valjevo protests spark debate over police conduct and presence
Disputes have arisen over police conduct and the scale of security presence during student protests in Valjevo, Serbia.
about 1 month ago

[POLITICS] 15 sources
Valjevo protests mark anniversary of police violence in Serbia
Students and citizens in Valjevo, Serbia, held a protest on August 14, 2026, marking the anniversary of 2025 police violence. Authorities detained 11 people during the unregistered gathering.
about 1 month ago

[CULTURE] 7 sources
Protest exhibition held at Jovan Jovanović Zmaj Gymnasium in Novi Sad
A protest photography exhibition was held in front of the Jovan Jovanović Zmaj Gymnasium in Novi Sad to support teachers and students facing ongoing educational disruptions.

Sources

antiguatribune.com · autonomija.info · beta.rs · budujznami.pl · bujanovacke.co.rs · cacanskiglas.rs · dan.co.me · danas.rs · europeanwesternbalkans.rs · icv.hr · koreni.rs · kurir.rs · masina.rs · nova.rs · nstore.rs · sd.rs · slobodenpecat.mk · trinidadtribune.com · ulus.rs · vpz.hr · vreme.com

This summary has been updated 2 times: see revision history