[REVISION HISTORY]

Student and educator protests in Serbia

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2026-08-15 09:16 UTC → 2026-08-18 11:50 UTC · added ~~removed~~

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. ~~The anniversary underscores ongoing demands for accountability~~ Following the march, controversy emerged regarding police conduct. Critics alleged that the ~~2025~~ police ~~response, which left dozens injured. While criminal complaints were filed against~~ response was retaliatory, claiming officers ~~in October 2025, activists and legal experts argue that investigations into potential torture and abuse of power remain insufficient. The Ombudsman's office maintains~~ remained passive during an ~~ongoing investigation, though critics question~~ initial attack on cordons but subsequently used force against non-resisting individuals. Conflicting reports surfaced regarding the ~~effectiveness~~ scale of the ~~institutional response.~~ 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.

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