06
Jul 2025
8:20 UTC
Serbia Tactical: Anti-government protest to be held in front of Centralni Zatvor in Belgrade at 19:00 (local time) on July 6; avoid nonessential travel
Current Situation
- On July 6, an anti-government protest organized by student groups, as well as health care workers, will be held in front of Centralni Zatvor, the Belgrade District Prison, located at 14 Bacvanska in Belgrade, at 19:00 (local time).
- The protest is being organized to demand the release of Dr. Vladimir Stefanovic, a protester who was arrested during a demonstration in Belgrade on June 28. Witnesses allege that police used violence against Dr. Stefanovic, who identified himself as a medical professional before being struck with a baton and detained. He is currently facing charges of assaulting a police officer, although witnesses state that he was unarmed and acting in his capacity as a doctor to provide medical aid to injured protesters.
- The organizers of the protest have alleged that the arrest is part of a broader pattern of government repression and intimidation targeting individuals involved in civic protests and public dissent.
Source: Instagram
Assessments & Forecast
- Based on precedent, coupled with the social media estimates, the protest is expected to attract a turnout ranging from the high thousands to the low tens of thousands.
- Given heightened sentiments over the protest issues, coupled with precedent, the protest carries a heightened risk of unrest in the form of clashes between protesters and the police. This is especially so given that the student group is calling for mass civil disobedience campaigns, including road blockades. Any such blockades or act of disruptive civil disobedience elevates the risk of violent clashes between demonstrators and law enforcement, as authorities are likely to maintain a low threshold for intervention. Moreover, in the case of road blockades, there remains the risk of unrest in the form of clashes between protesters and disgruntled commuters.
- Moreover, the potential for counter-protests by pro-government groups cannot be ruled out. Given precedent, the risk of targeted attacks by pro-government actors against student protesters, including vehicular rammings targeting protests, remains.
- As such, authorities are expected to deploy a bolstered security presence in the vicinity of the slated protest location to monitor proceedings. Should unrest escalate, authorities are likely to deploy forcible crowd dispersal measures, including conducting arrests. Regardless of unrest, the risk of arrests, including arbitrary arrests, of protesters cannot be ruled out.
- Significant disruptions to pedestrian and vehicular movement, including road closures and traffic diversions, should be anticipated in the vicinity of Centralni Zatvor during the evening hours.
Recommendations
- Those operating or residing in Belgrade on July 6 are advised to avoid nonessential travel in the vicinity of Centralni Zatvor due to the heightened risk of unrest at the slated protest.
- Allot for disruptions to travel in the vicinity of the slated anti-government protest during the evening hours.
COUNTRY RISK LEVEL
Low
AFFECTED AREA
Belgrade, Serbia
INCIDENT RISK LEVEL
High
STRENGTH OF SOURCE
Credible
Current Situation
- On July 6, an anti-government protest organized by student groups, as well as health care workers, will be held in front of Centralni Zatvor, the Belgrade District Prison, located at 14 Bacvanska in Belgrade, at 19:00 (local time).
- The protest is being organized to demand the release of Dr. Vladimir Stefanovic, a protester who was arrested during a demonstration in Belgrade on June 28. Witnesses allege that police used violence against Dr. Stefanovic, who identified himself as a medical professional before being struck with a baton and detained. He is currently facing charges of assaulting a police officer, although witnesses state that he was unarmed and acting in his capacity as a doctor to provide medical aid to injured protesters.
- The organizers of the protest have alleged that the arrest is part of a broader pattern of government repression and intimidation targeting individuals involved in civic protests and public dissent.
Source: Instagram
Assessments & Forecast
- Based on precedent, coupled with the social media estimates, the protest is expected to attract a turnout ranging from the high thousands to the low tens of thousands.
- Given heightened sentiments over the protest issues, coupled with precedent, the protest carries a heightened risk of unrest in the form of clashes between protesters and the police. This is especially so given that the student group is calling for mass civil disobedience campaigns, including road blockades. Any such blockades or act of disruptive civil disobedience elevates the risk of violent clashes between demonstrators and law enforcement, as authorities are likely to maintain a low threshold for intervention. Moreover, in the case of road blockades, there remains the risk of unrest in the form of clashes between protesters and disgruntled commuters.
- Moreover, the potential for counter-protests by pro-government groups cannot be ruled out. Given precedent, the risk of targeted attacks by pro-government actors against student protesters, including vehicular rammings targeting protests, remains.
- As such, authorities are expected to deploy a bolstered security presence in the vicinity of the slated protest location to monitor proceedings. Should unrest escalate, authorities are likely to deploy forcible crowd dispersal measures, including conducting arrests. Regardless of unrest, the risk of arrests, including arbitrary arrests, of protesters cannot be ruled out.
- Significant disruptions to pedestrian and vehicular movement, including road closures and traffic diversions, should be anticipated in the vicinity of Centralni Zatvor during the evening hours.
Recommendations
- Those operating or residing in Belgrade on July 6 are advised to avoid nonessential travel in the vicinity of Centralni Zatvor due to the heightened risk of unrest at the slated protest.
- Allot for disruptions to travel in the vicinity of the slated anti-government protest during the evening hours.
COUNTRY RISK LEVEL
Low
AFFECTED AREA
Belgrade, Serbia
INCIDENT RISK LEVEL
High
STRENGTH OF SOURCE
Credible
Related Reports
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ProtestSerbia Tactical: Protests, blockades ongoing in multiple locations in Belgrade as of morning hours (local time) on July 7; avoid nonessential travel -
ProtestSerbia Tactical: Anti-government protest to be held at Faculty of Law in Belgrade at 20:00 (local time) on July 6; avoid nonessential travel
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ProtestSerbia Tactical: Student groups call for blockades nationwide, including in Belgrade, from morning hours (local time) on July 4; avoid nonessential travel
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ProtestSerbia Tactical: Students to hold anti-government protest outside Faculty of Philosophy building in Belgrade at 18:00 (local time) on July 2; avoid nonessential travel
Related Reports
Serbia
-
ProtestSerbia Tactical: Protests, blockades ongoing in multiple locations in Belgrade as of morning hours (local time) on July 7; avoid nonessential travel
-
ProtestSerbia Tactical: Anti-government protest to be held at Faculty of Law in Belgrade at 20:00 (local time) on July 6; avoid nonessential travel
-
ProtestSerbia Tactical: Student groups call for blockades nationwide, including in Belgrade, from morning hours (local time) on July 4; avoid nonessential travel
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ProtestSerbia Tactical: Students to hold anti-government protest outside Faculty of Philosophy building in Belgrade at 18:00 (local time) on July 2; avoid nonessential travel