Skirmishes broke out as police formed cordons around government buildings and Pionirski Park, where Vučić’s supporters had camped for months. Some demonstrators hurled bottles, rocks and flares at officers, prompting several hours of confrontations across multiple downtown streets.

Student-Led Demonstrations

Tens of thousands joined the protest after months of nationwide rallies spearheaded by university students. The crowd chanted “We want elections!” as they marched through Slavija Square. One unnamed student declared, “Elections are a clear way out of the social crisis caused by the deeds of the government, which is undoubtedly against the interests of their own people”.

Authorities’ Response

Dragan Vasiljevic, director of police, told reporters that officers detained several dozen protesters and that six officers sustained injuries during the clashes Riot police clash with …. Riot units deployed tear gas at multiple hotspots to prevent demonstrators from approaching Pionirski Park and confronting loyalist encampments.

Opposition’s Illegitimacy Declaration

“Today, on June 28 2025, we declare the current authorities illegitimate,” organizers proclaimed in an online statement. An independent monitor estimated total attendance at around 140,000 people, far exceeding the 36,000 figure cited by state-controlled police.