Description: Anti – government student protests have significantly intensified as protestors blocked the entrance of Serbia’s national television RTS citing a biased approach towards the reporting of the protests. The protests which began as a response to wholesale government corruption connected to the collapse of a railway canopy in Novi Sad have grown into a larger civil movement demanding justice and investigation transparency. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has repeatedly denounced allegations of corruption and labeled the protests an elaborate scheme to topple his government. Escalation comes at a sensitive time as NATO’s Secretary General Rutte visited Kosovo and called for intensifying of negotiations while President Vucic was visited by Donald Trump Junior the same day. Protestors have announced a larger amassing for 15 Mar, Saturday, where the largest protest to date is expected to take place in Belgrade.
Impact: Serbia’s student protests have in large been accepted as an example of how a civil society should respond to wholesale government corruption. The protests have incited political revisionism in the country and elevated political tensions demanding governmental radical changes. Serbia has continuously aligned itself with Russia and is largely dependent on Chinese infrastructure development projects which distanced the country from EU ambitions. With rising tensions in Bosnia and Hercegovina with Milorad Dodik’s indictment and ongoing pressure from EU and NATO officials over the Kosovo dispute resolution, Serbia enters a sensitive period of political instability. President Vucic’s government has demonstrated a defensive and hostile position towards the civil movement and with the upcoming 15 Mar Belgrade protests the country is at risk of entering a revolving political crisis.