Protests held in Leskovac, Krusevac over violence against students in Novi Sad

The demonstrations were sparked by an incident on Monday night in central Novi Sad, where hooded assailants assaulted students during a ceremony at the Serbian National Theater. The event was attended by high-ranking state officials and members of the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS).

In Krusevac, protesters marched through the city’s main street toward the Police Administration building, where a formal letter from local students was read aloud to the crowd.

The students said they refuse to let violence become a normalized part of Serbian society. They emphasized that they would not turn a blind eye while their peers and fellow citizens are attacked, noting that remaining silent would be equivalent to condoning the violence.

“For a year now, students have been beaten, targeted, and arrested, with the expectation that each incident will fade away quietly. It won’t… We are here for those who were attacked, for those who come after us, and for our collective future. We will not back down,” the students said.

In Leskovac, protesters asked the police guarding the local SNS headquarters who they were truly protecting.

Nebojsa Cakic, an opposition councilor from the Together for Leskovac citizens’ group, asked the Leskovac Police Chief, Tomislav Ilic, if he was protecting “the mafia or the citizens.” When Chief Ilic said that he was simply doing his job, Cakic replied: “Your job is not to protect the SNS, it is to protect the people! What you are doing is shameful.”

Nikola Stamenkovic, one of the protest organizers, delivered a speech urging the crowd to remind the police who they work for.

Addressing the officers directly, Stamenkovic said: “We are here to remind you of your duty. Influence your colleagues, including those outside of Leskovac who are beating citizens in Novi Sad and Belgrade, and know that you have the right to say ‘no.’ You have chosen an honorable calling, wear your names and badges with pride.”

Throughout the evening, the police officers remained silent, offering no response as the protesters called them out.