Serbia Tactical: Student-led anti-government protest slated to be held in front of National Assembly in Belgrade at 14:00 (local time) on May 1; avoid nonessential travel

Apr 2025

7:43 UTC

On May 1, a student-led protest organized by several groups, including Studenti Blokadi, will take place in front of the National Assembly building in Belgrade at 14:00 (local time).

Five national trade unions will also join the protest. This includes the Udruzeni sindikati Srbije (Sloga), Savez Samostalnih Sindikata Srbije (SSSS), Ujedinjeni Gradjanski Sindikati, the Asocijacija Slobodnih i Nezavisnih Sindikata, and the Konfederacija Slobodnih Sindikata.
The protest coincides with regionwide Labor Day celebrations held on May 1. Student groups have stated that the protest is also being held to demand changes to laws governing striking and labor rights, which they claim do not adequately protect workers.
The protest is also being held to commemorate the six-month anniversary of the November 2024 train station roof collapse in Novi Sad, which has been the subject of an ongoing protest movement nationwide.

Based on precedent, and given both the support of multiple trade unions and the protest’s timing with May 1 Labor Day, the event is likely to draw a turnout ranging from the high thousands to the low tens of thousands.
Given prevailing anti-government sentiments, the protest carries a heightened potential for unrest in the form of clashes between protesters and the police, as well as potential counter-protesters. The risk is especially elevated should protesters attempt to blockade the government building, as seen in previous student-led protests.
Moreover, the potential for violent incidents is expected to remain elevated should pro-government supporters seek to infiltrate the protest. Additionally, any slated or potential anti-government protests carry a high risk of attacks by pro-government actors or disgruntled commuters, including in the form of vehicle ramming.
As such, authorities are expected to deploy a bolstered security presence near the National Assembly building to monitor proceedings. Should unrest escalate, authorities are likely to deploy forcible crowd dispersal measures, including conducting arrests and using tear gas.
Significant disruptions to pedestrian and vehicular movement, including road closures and traffic diversions, should be anticipated in the vicinity of the protest locations during the slated timings.

Those operating or residing in Belgrade on May 1 are advised to avoid nonessential travel in the vicinity of the National Assembly due to the elevated potential for unrest at the slated protest.
Allot for disruptions to travel in the vicinity of the protest location from the afternoon hours onwards.

Low

Belgrade, Serbia

High

Credible

On May 1, a student-led protest organized by several groups, including Studenti Blokadi, will take place in front of the National Assembly building in Belgrade at 14:00 (local time).

Five national trade unions will also join the protest. This includes the Udruzeni sindikati Srbije (Sloga), Savez Samostalnih Sindikata Srbije (SSSS), Ujedinjeni Gradjanski Sindikati, the Asocijacija Slobodnih i Nezavisnih Sindikata, and the Konfederacija Slobodnih Sindikata.
The protest coincides with regionwide Labor Day celebrations held on May 1. Student groups have stated that the protest is also being held to demand changes to laws governing striking and labor rights, which they claim do not adequately protect workers.
The protest is also being held to commemorate the six-month anniversary of the November 2024 train station roof collapse in Novi Sad, which has been the subject of an ongoing protest movement nationwide.

Based on precedent, and given both the support of multiple trade unions and the protest’s timing with May 1 Labor Day, the event is likely to draw a turnout ranging from the high thousands to the low tens of thousands.
Given prevailing anti-government sentiments, the protest carries a heightened potential for unrest in the form of clashes between protesters and the police, as well as potential counter-protesters. The risk is especially elevated should protesters attempt to blockade the government building, as seen in previous student-led protests.
Moreover, the potential for violent incidents is expected to remain elevated should pro-government supporters seek to infiltrate the protest. Additionally, any slated or potential anti-government protests carry a high risk of attacks by pro-government actors or disgruntled commuters, including in the form of vehicle ramming.
As such, authorities are expected to deploy a bolstered security presence near the National Assembly building to monitor proceedings. Should unrest escalate, authorities are likely to deploy forcible crowd dispersal measures, including conducting arrests and using tear gas.
Significant disruptions to pedestrian and vehicular movement, including road closures and traffic diversions, should be anticipated in the vicinity of the protest locations during the slated timings.

Those operating or residing in Belgrade on May 1 are advised to avoid nonessential travel in the vicinity of the National Assembly due to the elevated potential for unrest at the slated protest.
Allot for disruptions to travel in the vicinity of the protest location from the afternoon hours onwards.

Low

Belgrade, Serbia

High

Credible

Protest