Serbia's Road Blockades Enter Third Day Amid Tensions
Students and citizens block intersections in dozens of cities for a third straight day. A car allegedly tried to drive through protesters in Novi Sad, tensions flared in Kosjeric, and police intervened in Uzice.
- Traffic blockades ran for a third consecutive day across dozens of cities in Serbia.
- In Novi Sad a driver allegedly tried to ram protesters, tensions flared in Kosjeric, and police intervened in Uzice.
- Citizen assemblies demand the release of everyone detained after the arrests of June 28 and 29, plus early elections.
- Police urged people to refrain from unlawful acts, while the ruling SNS says it will not allow violence.
Mobile blockades of intersections and roads continued today for a third straight day in dozens of cities across Serbia. Students in blockade and citizen assemblies halted traffic from Belgrade’s Student Cultural Center and the Ibar Highway to Novi Sad, Kosjeric, Uzice, Kragujevac and Novi Pazar, demanding the release of those detained and the calling of early elections.
The wave of civil disobedience began after Vidovdan and an unmet ultimatum, then sharpened following arrests during gatherings on June 28 and 29. Unlike earlier rallies held at a single location, this time the protest took the form of short, mobile blockades that move from one intersection to the next, a tactic organizers use to keep up pressure without large static columns.
The day was not without incidents. In Novi Sad, a driver allegedly tried to ram protesters at one of the blocked intersections, while in Kosjeric tensions flared between gathered citizens and those demanding that traffic be cleared. The Interior Ministry issued a statement after police intervened in Uzice, saying it was acting in line with the law and calling on participants not to block traffic.
How did the blockades change the cities?
In Belgrade, several roundabouts and bridges were blocked during the day, prompting changes to tram and bus routes in Zemun and New Belgrade. The city transit operator rerouted lines, and public transport vehicles stopped or shortened their routes along stretches affected by the gatherings.
A similar picture appeared across the country. In Novi Sad, assemblies announced the blocking of a larger number of intersections, in Kragujevac citizens stayed at junctions near the city parks, and gatherings were also reported in Raska, Uzice and Novi Pazar. The blockades generally lasted a limited time, after which traffic was released, only for a new gathering point to form soon after.
Organizers say they will not back down until their demands are met, among them the release of everyone arrested and the calling of early elections. The opposite message comes from those in power. The Serbian Progressive Party repeats that it will not allow violence and that blocking roads is unlawful, while President Aleksandar Vucic argues that some citizens block while others build, rejecting the demands for early elections.
What comes next for the movement and the government?
A third consecutive day showed that the blockades are not a one-off act but a method that repeats and adapts. The open question is how long mobile blockades can last before fatigue, police intervention or fresh incidents change their dynamic, and whether the government stays firm in refusing any talk of early elections.
For now, the two sides are talking past each other. Citizen assemblies measure success by the number of intersections and cities where gatherings take place, while the government measures order on the streets and the number of reported incidents. Caught in between is the daily life of citizens, altered transit lines and increasingly sharp rhetoric.
Do you think mobile blockades can lead to a political dialogue, or are we headed for further escalation on the streets?
