Serbia's Vucic faces renewed protests one year after deadly Valjevo collapse

A short clip from a few seconds ago shows a man lying on a street in Valjevo, a city 90 km southwest of Belgrade, surrounded by police. Officers strike him while he is on the ground. The footage has become the most recognisable evidence of police violence during the student protests that shook Serbia last year.

The protests began over a concrete canopy collapse at Novi Sad railway station in November 2024 that killed 16 people. Students demanded accountability, but the movement quickly grew. Blockades spread across the country and hundreds of thousands took to the streets. They now call for broader political change. The protests challenge President Aleksandar Vucic, who has ruled for more than a decade while balancing close ties to Moscow with a declared path toward the European Union.

Darija Rankovic, editor‑in‑chief of the Kolubarske.rs portal, has been a target of a government‑aligned smear campaign. Media outlets accused her of “bringing down the state,” added vulgar insults, and spread lies about extortion and blackmail. She says the attacks made her feel unsafe, both personally and professionally. “Independent journalists are in an extremely dangerous position,” she told Al Jazeera. Despite the threats, Rankovic will cover an anniversary rally in Valjevo on Friday. She says the social rupture and erosion of trust are still felt in everyday life a year later.

Police say the force used was lawful and followed an attack on officers, claiming there was no other way to restore order. Writer Tomislav Markovic reports that the day after the protests, masked attackers vandalised a café, injured a female employee, and assaulted an auto‑repair shop owner and customers. No one has been held accountable. Markovic blames President Vucic and his Serbian Progressive Party, which has ruled for decades. The upcoming rally in Valjevo will test whether the protest movement can maintain momentum in the face of state‑backed opposition.