Fights continue in Belgrade in anti-Vucciq protests, 79 arrested

The riot equipment officers intervened late Wednesday and early Thursday in the capital, Belgrade, the northern city of Novi Sad and the southern towns of Nis and Novi Pazar.

Authorities denied reports of police brutality and excessive force against demonstrators, reports the Associated Press, broadcast Clankosova.tv.

University students after the protests said police accused and hurt many peaceful demonstrators. Witnesses told local media that riot police beat protesters with sticks and that four students were hospitalised, including one with broken clavicules.

Four officers were injured and a police vehicle was damaged, the Interior Ministry said in a statement, noting that officers “acted in line with law” as they responded to the riots Wednesday and early Thursday.

Tensions in Balkan countries have increased since a rally Saturday demanding early parliamentary elections. The gathering of tens of thousands of people in Belgrade ended in clashes between riot police and riot groups.

Vucic has refused to appoint early elections, despite more than eight months of ongoing demonstrations.

Protests began in November after a renovated railway station shelter collapsed in Novi Sad, killing 16 people and prompting accusations of corruption-led neglect in state infrastructure projects.

Parliamentary and presidential elections will be held in 2027. While refusing to call for elections, Vucic has stepped up government pressure to stem protests he describes as <x0-terror” and efforts to bring down the state. /Periscope/