Protesters in Belgrade hurled flares and objects at Serbian riot police on Saturday (June 28) as clashes erupted after anti-government protest with demonstrators demanding snap elections and an end to the 12-year rule of President Aleksandar Vucic.

Police deployed scores of officers in riot gear around government buildings, parliament and nearby Pionirski Park, where throngs of Vucic's backers from across the country gathered in a counter-protest.

After the protest ended at around 10 p.m. (2000 GMT) some protesters who wanted to confront Vucic's backers threw flares at police, while the police used pepper spray to disperse them.

Footage shows police arresting several protesters, with some being held on the ground. One man was seen bleeding as officers took him away.

Months of protests across the country, including university shutdowns, have rattled Vucic, a populist, whose second term ends in 2027, when there are also parliamentary elections scheduled.

Vucic's opponents accuse him and his allies of ties to organized crime, violence against rivals and curbing media freedoms, something they deny.

Protests by students, opposition, teachers, workers and farmers began last December after 16 people died on November 1 in a Novi Sad railway station roof collapse. Protesters blame corruption for the disaster.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

BELGRADE, SERBIA (JUNE 28, 2025) (REUTERS-Access all) (NIGHT SHOTS)

1. (MUTE) VARIOUS OF DRONE SHOTS OF POLICE CLASHING WITH ANTI-GOVERNMENT PROTESTERS, FLARES BEING HURLED AT POLICE

2. RIOT POLICE WALKING TOWARDS PROTESTERS, FLARES BEING HURLED AT POLICE

3. POLICE CLASHING WITH PROTESTERS / POLICE OFFICERS DETAINING TWO PROTESTERS

4. VARIOUS OF MAN WITH BLOOD ON HIS FACE LYING ON GROUND, TALKING TO POLICE, BEING TAKEN AWAY

5. VARIOUS OF POLICE OFFICERS HOLDING PROTESTERS ON GROUND

6. POLICE HOLDING PROTESTER ON GROUND, FLARES BEING THROWN

7. PROTESTERS WITH GAS MASK STANDING IN FRONT OF POLICE

8. VARIOUS OF MAN STANDING AMONG CROWD WITH HANDS UP IN FRONT OF RIOT POLICE

9. RIOT POLICE MOVING TOWARDS PROTESTERS, PUSHING TRASH CONTAINERS

10. VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS CLASHING WITH POLICE, KICKING RIOT SHIELDS

11. RIOT POLICE STANDING BEHIND TRASH CAN

12. PROTESTERS THROWING OBJECTS AT POLICE

13. PROTESTERS PUSHING TRASH CANS AT RIOT POLICE

14. VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS THROWING OBJECTS AT POLICE

15. RIOT POLICE STANDING

16. PROTESTERS THROWING OBJECTS

17. VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS CHANTING, FLARES ON GROUND

18. VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS CLASHING WITH POLICE

19. VARIOUS OF POLICE CORDONING OFF PROTESTERS, EMPTY BOTTLES AND TRASH ON GROUND

20. WOMAN DRAPED IN SERBIAN FLAG WALKING BEHIND SERBIAN POLICE

21. SERBIAN FLAG ON ROAD SIGN, RIOT POLICE STANDING

22. WOMAN DRAPED IN SERBIAN FLAG BACKING OFF, RIOT POLICE TALKING TO HER

23. PARAMEDICS HELPING INJURED POLICE OFFICER