24
Jan 2025
7:30 UTC
Serbia Tactical (UPDATE): Multiple protests to take place in Belgrade as part of general strike from late morning hours onwards (local time) on January 24; avoid nonessential travel
Current Situation
- Several protests have been announced in Belgrade for January 24 to support student activist groups’ call for an anti-government general strike.
- High school students will hold two marches to the Novi Beograd municipality. One group will block the intersection of Kneza Milosa and Nemanjina streets for 15 minutes from 11:52 (local time) and then cross the Branko’s Bridge to the Usce shopping center.
- High school students will hold two marches to the Novi Beograd municipality. One group will block the intersection of Kneza Milosa and Nemanjina streets for 15 minutes from 11:52 (local time) and then cross the Branko’s Bridge to the Usce shopping center.
- Another group will begin marching from Zemun Gymnasium to Novi Beograd. They will hold a 15-minute blockade near Mihajla Pupina Boulevard at 11:52 and then march to the Usce shopping center.
- Another group will begin marching from Zemun Gymnasium to Novi Beograd. They will hold a 15-minute blockade near Mihajla Pupina Boulevard at 11:52 and then march to the Usce shopping center.
- Both groups will collectively block the roundabout near the Usce shopping center from 12:45 to 13:30. They will then march within Novi Beograd although details regarding the route of their joint march have not been released yet.
- Both groups will collectively block the roundabout near the Usce shopping center from 12:45 to 13:30. They will then march within Novi Beograd although details regarding the route of their joint march have not been released yet.
- University student groups have announced support for the marches and will begin marching from Slavija Square at 11:00 and join the high school students at Nemanjina Street.
- University student groups have announced support for the marches and will begin marching from Slavija Square at 11:00 and join the high school students at Nemanjina Street.
- Meanwhile, medical students will hold a protest at Oslobodenja Boulevard, near Milutina Milankovica Park, at 11:30.
- Meanwhile, medical students will hold a protest at Oslobodenja Boulevard, near Milutina Milankovica Park, at 11:30.
- Separately, the Inicijativa Most civil association will hold a protest in front of the state-owned public broadcaster Radio-Televizija Srbije’s (RTS) building on Takovska Street at 11:52.
- Separately, the Inicijativa Most civil association will hold a protest in front of the state-owned public broadcaster Radio-Televizija Srbije’s (RTS) building on Takovska Street at 11:52.
- The opposition National Democratic Alternative political collective will block the E75 highway at 11:52. However, it did not announce which section of the highway it will blockade.
Source: Dana
- The opposition National Democratic Alternative political collective will block the E75 highway at 11:52. However, it did not announce which section of the highway it will blockade.
Source: Dana
Assessments & Forecast
- Based on the turnout seen in recent protests, coupled with the significance of a general strike, the protests in Belgrade are likely to collectively garner an attendance in the low-to-mid tens of thousands, with the largest turnout at the Usce blockade.
- Given continuing violent incidents at student protests, including physical attacks and vehicular rammings, the slated demonstrations carry a high risk of unrest. Moreover, with student groups accusing authorities and the police of cracking down on their protests, the potential for clashes between demonstrators and the police also remains. Furthermore, given the gathering outside Usce shopping center, attacks on businesses within the building cannot be ruled out.
- Given this, a heavily bolstered security deployment can be expected near the protests. In the event of escalating unrest, authorities are liable to respond with forcible crowd dispersal measures, including mass arrests and using batons and tear gas.
- Severe disruptions to pedestrian and vehicular traffic are likely across Belgrade, especially in Novi Beograd, over the morning and afternoon hours.
Recommendations
Those operating or residing in Belgrade on January 24 are advised to avoid nonessential travel in the vicinity of the anti-government protests due to the elevated risk of violent unrest.
COUNTRY RISK LEVEL
Low
AFFECTED AREA
Belgrade, Serbia
INCIDENT RISK LEVEL
High
STRENGTH OF SOURCE
Credible
Current Situation
- Several protests have been announced in Belgrade for January 24 to support student activist groups’ call for an anti-government general strike.
- High school students will hold two marches to the Novi Beograd municipality. One group will block the intersection of Kneza Milosa and Nemanjina streets for 15 minutes from 11:52 (local time) and then cross the Branko’s Bridge to the Usce shopping center.
- High school students will hold two marches to the Novi Beograd municipality. One group will block the intersection of Kneza Milosa and Nemanjina streets for 15 minutes from 11:52 (local time) and then cross the Branko’s Bridge to the Usce shopping center.
- Another group will begin marching from Zemun Gymnasium to Novi Beograd. They will hold a 15-minute blockade near Mihajla Pupina Boulevard at 11:52 and then march to the Usce shopping center.
- Another group will begin marching from Zemun Gymnasium to Novi Beograd. They will hold a 15-minute blockade near Mihajla Pupina Boulevard at 11:52 and then march to the Usce shopping center.
- Both groups will collectively block the roundabout near the Usce shopping center from 12:45 to 13:30. They will then march within Novi Beograd although details regarding the route of their joint march have not been released yet.
- Both groups will collectively block the roundabout near the Usce shopping center from 12:45 to 13:30. They will then march within Novi Beograd although details regarding the route of their joint march have not been released yet.
- University student groups have announced support for the marches and will begin marching from Slavija Square at 11:00 and join the high school students at Nemanjina Street.
- University student groups have announced support for the marches and will begin marching from Slavija Square at 11:00 and join the high school students at Nemanjina Street.
- Meanwhile, medical students will hold a protest at Oslobodenja Boulevard, near Milutina Milankovica Park, at 11:30.
- Meanwhile, medical students will hold a protest at Oslobodenja Boulevard, near Milutina Milankovica Park, at 11:30.
- Separately, the Inicijativa Most civil association will hold a protest in front of the state-owned public broadcaster Radio-Televizija Srbije’s (RTS) building on Takovska Street at 11:52.
- Separately, the Inicijativa Most civil association will hold a protest in front of the state-owned public broadcaster Radio-Televizija Srbije’s (RTS) building on Takovska Street at 11:52.
- The opposition National Democratic Alternative political collective will block the E75 highway at 11:52. However, it did not announce which section of the highway it will blockade.
Source: Dana
- The opposition National Democratic Alternative political collective will block the E75 highway at 11:52. However, it did not announce which section of the highway it will blockade.
Source: Dana
Assessments & Forecast
- Based on the turnout seen in recent protests, coupled with the significance of a general strike, the protests in Belgrade are likely to collectively garner an attendance in the low-to-mid tens of thousands, with the largest turnout at the Usce blockade.
- Given continuing violent incidents at student protests, including physical attacks and vehicular rammings, the slated demonstrations carry a high risk of unrest. Moreover, with student groups accusing authorities and the police of cracking down on their protests, the potential for clashes between demonstrators and the police also remains. Furthermore, given the gathering outside Usce shopping center, attacks on businesses within the building cannot be ruled out.
- Given this, a heavily bolstered security deployment can be expected near the protests. In the event of escalating unrest, authorities are liable to respond with forcible crowd dispersal measures, including mass arrests and using batons and tear gas.
- Severe disruptions to pedestrian and vehicular traffic are likely across Belgrade, especially in Novi Beograd, over the morning and afternoon hours.
Recommendations
Those operating or residing in Belgrade on January 24 are advised to avoid nonessential travel in the vicinity of the anti-government protests due to the elevated risk of violent unrest.
COUNTRY RISK LEVEL
Low
AFFECTED AREA
Belgrade, Serbia
INCIDENT RISK LEVEL
High
STRENGTH OF SOURCE
Credible
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Related Reports
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ProtestEurope Tactical (UPDATE): Protests related to Russia-Ukraine conflict to be held in multiple cities regionwide on February 22-24; maintain heightened vigilance
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ProtestSerbia Tactical (UPDATE): Protest slated outside RTS building in Belgrade from 11:52 (local time) on February 14; avoid nonessential travel
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ProtestSerbia Tactical (UPDATE): Multiple protests, educational workers' strike to take place nationwide on February 13-15; avoid nonessential travel
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