Serbia protests: Students in Belgrade gather for largest anti-government demonstration in decades

After three months of anti-government protests in Serbia, Belgrade saw its biggest turnout on Saturday, when tens of thousands of demonstrators gathered outside parliament to express their dissent with the policies of Serbia's populist President Aleksandar Vučić.

A mass of students ignited the demonstrations back in December as a response to the fatal roof collapse that took place at Novi Sad train station in November and resulted in 15 deaths. The disaster has been blamed on corruption under Vučić’s rule.

Protestors have been demanding that Serbian authorities publish documents relating to the roof collapse, justice for those responsible, the dismissal of charges against protesting students, and an increased budget for higher education.

With authorities threatening that anyone involved in violent disturbances would be arrested, many of the estimated 60,000-80,000 people in attendance of the rally expressed positivity that it would be a strictly peaceful protest – instead pointing the finger at the government for creating “tension.”