FLASH
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Belgrade is preparing today for another student-led protest to pressure Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic to call early parliamentary elections after nearly eight months of rallies that have gripped the Balkan country.
Tensions have risen sharply ahead of the protest organized by Serbia's university students, a key force behind nationwide anti-corruption demonstrations that began after a renovated train station tent collapsed, killing 16 people on November 1.
The incident sparked widespread public anger and accusations of massive corruption and negligence in infrastructure projects against the government. Students are demanding the announcement of early parliamentary elections and the cessation of a counter-protest demonstration in the center of the capital.
Vucic and his right-wing Serbian Progressive Party have rejected the request for an early vote and accused the protesters of planning to incite violence on orders from abroad.
Vučić warned of a turbulent Saturday. " From 3:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. expect violence to begin - but we are ready," he said, stressing that the state will be defended and the bandits will be brought to justice.
Students who have blocked various faculties in Belgrade have issued an ultimatum: if two main demands are not met by June 28 at 9:00 PM: the announcement of new elections and the cessation of the counter-protest in central Belgrade, then they will invite citizens to "civil disobedience in all forms."
The student protests, which have been going on for more than seven months, have received widespread support and are considered a serious challenge to the rule of President Vučić, who has faced harsh criticism for the way political and criminal responsibility for the November tragedy in Novi Sad is being managed.
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