Riots in Belgrade: Protesters tried to break into city hall

The unrest occurred when members of the opposition and some demonstrators who did not believe in the victory of the ruling party in the elections tried to break through the closed doors of the Belgrade City Hall. The protesters also broke windows and glass at the entrance. The security forces inside the building responded with tear gas.

After that, one of the leaders of the Belgrade police addressed the demonstrators and the opposition. He warned that "forceful entry would be a criminal act". In response, one of the opposition leaders called on the police to leave the building to "take the side of the people."

Serbian authorities' reaction

Due to the unrest in Belgrade, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić made an urgent appeal. He stated that the situation in the country was under control and that the events in Belgrade were not a revolution.

"I want to tell you not to worry. Although the scenes are dramatic. No revolution is taking place, nothing will go its own way," the Serbian president said.

At the same time, Vučić said that "foreign countries" had warned Serbia about possible protests and an attempted "color revolution." It is worth noting that this term is usually used by Russian dictator Vladimir Putin when talking about revolutions in Ukraine and around the world.

Elections in Serbia

In early November, Vučić dissolved the Serbian parliament and scheduled new parliamentary and local elections for December 17, 2023. The previous general elections in Serbia were held in April 2022, and the next parliamentary elections were scheduled for 2026.

The ruling Serbian Progressive Party won the elections on December 17. However, the opposition believes that the parliamentary elections were rigged.

OSCE observers also recorded election violations in Serbia. Among the violations, in particular, were bribery of voters and media bias.