Serbian Students, Staff, Protest Bill To Weaken University Independence

Thousands of protesters hit the streets of the capital, Belgrade, over the weekend to oppose what they say is an unprecedented government assault on public universities’ independence, the latest explosion of public anger in Serbia, which has seen months of anti-government demonstrations, the Associated Press reported. 

Friday’s demonstrations took place outside the Serbian government buildings, with protesters calling on authorities to abolish a bill that would allow authorities to appoint state university leadership, in effect ending academic independence. 

The government has also cut the salaries of professors involved in the protests and threatened to defund faculties where classes have been suspended due to student-led protests. 

Demonstrators accused President Aleksandar Vučić and his administration of attempting to suppress dissent under the guise of reform. 

Serbia has been grappling with mass student-led protests since November following the collapse of the roof at Novi Sad’s main train station that killed 16 people.  

Vučić has accused the protesters of serving foreign interests and attempting to destabilize Serbia. He has refused student demands for early elections to resolve the political crisis. 

Meanwhile, student demonstrators have reported facing attacks from pro-government groups, as well as pressure from police and state security services. 

Amid the ongoing unrest, European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas expressed support for the demonstrators during a visit to Belgrade last week. She warned that Serbia’s EU future hinges on upholding democratic values and insisted that “the autonomy of the universities must be respected,” the AP wrote separately. 

Vučić maintains a pro-EU stance officially, but critics say he is eroding democratic freedoms while strengthening ties with China and Russia.