BELGRADE: Serbian students gathered in central Belgrade on Friday to block a key intersection in the capital to protest alleged electoral fraud.

It will be the first day-long blockade since the Dec 17 parliamentary and local elections in which President Aleksandar Vucic’s party said it secured a commanding victory. But opposition groups have contested the results.

The main opposition coalition, Serbia Against Violence, alleged that ethnic-Serbian voters from neighbouring Bosnia had been allowed to cast ballots illegally in the capital.

International observers also reported irregularities while several Western nations voiced concern over the electoral process. The students, organised within the Borba (Fight) movement, are calling for the election results to be annulled and new votes held.

“In our country, literally for decades, no justice has been done regarding democratic processes,” Jovana Kostadinov, a 19-year-old student at the Belgrade University, said.

“Now when I was finally entitled to vote, (my vote) was not respected and I feel hurt,” she said.

“Who stole the elections?” activist Ivan Bijelic asked the protesting students, who replied chanting: “Thieves, thieves!”

Students, joined by other youngsters, erected tents making an improvised camp while some sat at the intersection close to government buildings.

“We will not allow you (Vucic) this,” read one of the banners carried by the protesters.

Once the blockade ends at midday on Saturday the protesters plan to join another demonstration later in the day led by a group of intellectuals, artists and celebrities who urged people to vote before the elections.

Published in Dawn, December 30th, 2023