Serbian capital, Belgrade saw protests taking a violent turn on Sunday. The police in Belgrade have used tear gas to break up protesting crowds over alleged fraud in last week’s general election.

The protestors stepped in following window smashing and attempts by some of the throngs outside the city hall, to break in. Police allegedly used excessive force on Sunday, according to opposition activists.
Critics claim that the ruling party won the elections through manipulation by the government. The claims, according to President Aleksandar Vucic, are “rubbish and lies”.

Violent Protestors break in Serbia City Hall

The angry protestors made an attempt to break into the city hall along with the members of the opposition coalition. Two opposition leaders, Srdjan Milivojevic and Vladimir Obradovic, attempted to enter the building through the door. The police had to use pepper spray to drive away the demonstrators.

Srdjan Milivojevic, referred to Vucic as a “thief like the world has never seen before.” He was observed trying to enter the city hall by opening the door, but he was unsuccessful.

Officers used truncheons to beat Radomir Lazovic, the co-leader of the Green-Left Front, and several other individuals. He claims, the national and local elections last week sparked peaceful protests every evening.

The opposition leaders believe that windows were broken by agents’ provocateurs, which is what prompted the police action.

A lawyer named Sofija Mandic advised Mr. Vucic to “hand over power peacefully” to the people gathered. She went on, saying the administration was “usurping” power. Protesters claim that thousands of people were shuttled in by the government to influence the results of the city elections in Belgrade. They demand a fresh poll to be conducted.

The mob outside the building chanted, “Vucic, go away.”

Following the voting, the Serbian Progressive Party, led by Mr. Vucic, was able to regain a majority in the legislature. Though both foreign and domestic observers have noted “irregularities”.

SPN declared there was electoral fraud in a statement. “More than 40,000 non-residents were brought to Belgrade,” the coalition declared. It called on supporters to demonstrate on Monday night and asked that the vote in the capital be pushed back.

However, President Vucic assured supporters that the party had defeated the opposition challenge in Belgrade and that Aleksandar Sapic, the former water polo star who united his party with the Progressives, would once again lead the nation’s capital.

Almost immediately, there were allegations of anomalies surrounding the voting. Many critics and protestors have reported vote buying and ballot box stuffing.

President Vucic’s claims “foreign pry”

President Aleksander Vucic attributed the upheaval to foreign meddling during Sunday night’s emergency speech.

“Those who swore to fight against violence just confirmed once again that they are the real thugs,” stated Vucic.
“The opposition wanted to seize power in Belgrade and prevent the ruling party from having a majority. However, official results—which opposition figures instantly criticized as phony—showed that the opposition had fallen short of both objectives.”

“My job was to do everything in my power to secure an absolute majority,” Mr. Vucic told fans, while being joined on stage by controversial Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik and Prime Minister Ana Brnabic. However, he himself was not running for the elections.

It has launched daily protests in retaliation. Seven members of the opposition have started a hunger strike.

During the demonstration, hunger striker Marinika Tepic claimed that Vucic had stolen thousands of ballots. Out of 8,000 voting places around the country, the electoral commission declared on Wednesday that 30 of them would have their elections redone.

Marinika yelled, “Vucic, you have stolen not one, but thousands and thousands of votes.” She demanded that the election be canceled.

Allegations of electoral malpractice, according to Germany, are “unacceptable” for a nation that aspires to join the EU.

How Serbian elections were conducted?

On December 17, 2023, Serbia held parliamentary elections to choose the National Assembly’s members. Although the original plan was for the elections to take place by 30 April 2026, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić announced in November 2023 that they would likely take place in 2023 or 2024.

A near-final count showed that his Serbian Progressive Party, or SNS, had received 47% of the vote. With about 23%, opposition groups operating under the Serbia Against Violence (SPN) umbrella lagged far behind.

The SNS is expected to have won more than half of the 250 seats in the National Assembly if the results are verified.

According to a statement from the International Election Observation Mission, “serious irregularities, including vote-buying and ballot box stuffing, were observed.” Although there have been three elections in the last three years, the SNS has remained in power since 2012.

Election monitor CRTA expressed concerns prior to the vote over a “chronic lack of pluralism” in Serbia, and opposition figures have accused the SNS of exploiting public resources for partisan ends. The predicted national turnout was 59.1%.

Many critics from the area noted a number of anomalies, such as voters being bussed in from Bosnia-Herzegovina to cast ballots in Belgrade.

Kosovo Serbs Used for Voting?

Serbia is seeking to join the EU, and President Vucic is facing pressure from the US and the EU to restore diplomatic ties with Kosovo.

More than 100 UN members recognize Kosovo’s 2008 unilateral declaration of independence from Serbia; yet, Serbia, supported by allies like China, Russia, and five EU countries, has refused to do the same. Kosovo, home to about 95,000 ethnic Serbs, reports they were transported into Serbia in order to vote.

Having very powerful allies and at the same time a very firm opposition, what needs to be analysed if these elections will stay withdrawn. Or will the people continue living in chaos under Vucic, claimed to be a “dictator”, with alleged connections with a criminal group that is being prosecuted for a range of crimes including drug trafficking and murder.