Over 100,000 people participate in anti-corruption rally in Belgrade

Thousands of protesters have fallen silent in Serbia’s capital on Saturday, to honour the victims of a concrete awning collapse which has sparked significant unrest in the country.

More than 100,000 Serbians participated in the rally, seen as a culmination of months-long protests against Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vučić and his government.

Large crowds of flag-waving protesters clogged the downtown area of the capital despite rainy weather. People were hardly able to move and many stuck hundreds of meters away from the planned protest venue.

Protests started four months ago after a concrete awning collapsed at a train station in the north of Serbia, killing 15 people. Demonstrations have erupted almost daily in response to the tragedy.

Many in Serbia blamed the incident on rampant government corruption, negligence and disrespect of construction safety regulations. Protesters are demanding those responsible for this tragedy be held to account.

The rally is also being seen as the first major challenge for Vučić, who has been in charge for more than a decade.

Saturday’s rally was dubbed “15 for 15”, referring to the date of the protest and the number of people killed in the awning collapse in the northern city of Novi Sad on 1 November. The crowds fell silent for 15 minutes in the evening to honour the victims.

Police say the crowd reached 107,000 people, but independent Serbian media say the numbers were much higher, adding that the rally was the biggest ever in the country.

Police also say the demonstration was peaceful for the most part, with no major incidents having been reported. Protesters accuse Vučić’s supporters of disrupting that and provoking clashes.

“Today’s protest was completely peaceful until Mr. President (Aleksandar Vučić) and his obedient (supporters) sent their provocateurs to cause incidents and possible bloodshed,” said Svetlana Muro, a Belgrade resident participating in the rally.

Serbia’s Preisdent Aleksandar Vučić speaking about the rally said that almost two-dozen people were arrested for inciting violence and vandalism.

“Twenty two people have been arrested because they committed crimes against the properties of other people but also of the Republic of Serbia, for attacking policemen, and attacking other people.”

The Serbian leader also acknowledged the will of the people and urged the government to take in the message and demands of protesters.

“We understood the message well and all the officials in power must understand the message when so many people gather. We will have to change ourselves and we will have to learn a lot,” said Vučić.

He also added that it was clear to him that Serbians want a change, saying “the citizens of Serbia want to change the government in the elections.”