Vidovdan: a Rallying Point for Civic Protest in Serbia

A new civic wave is once again rising on the streets of Belgrade. After 17 days of a round-the-clock protest, professors from leading Serbian universities have dismantled their tent camp in front of the government building. However, their withdrawal from the crossroads does not mean surrender. On the contrary: the professors have announced that they will join the student-led demonstrations planned for Vidovdan — a historically significant date for Serbian society.

Meanwhile, the situation surrounding the protests is becoming increasingly tense. As preparations for new mass demonstrations are underway, police arrested student Stevan Tomić, charging him with terrorism — a move that professors and human rights activists have already described as a form of informational pressure.

All this is a continuation and development of the civic dynamic that the author recently described in the article “Night at the Assembly: How Academics, Medics, and Observers Are Rewriting the Rules of the Game” Back then, protest initiatives from various professional groups merged into an even broader coalition. Now, the events surrounding Vidovdan risk becoming a new phase in this struggle.

The Tent May Be Gone, But the Protest Continues

After more than two weeks of round-the-clock presence at the government building, the “Faculties at the Crossroads” action completed its first phase. Professors from Serbian universities — including faculty from the University of Belgrade, the University of Novi Sad, and the University of Niš — voluntarily dismantled their camp at the crossroads, having received no response from the authorities to their demands.

The 17-day protest was aimed against the new version of the regulation on academic standards — a document that, according to the participants, undermines university autonomy, complicates scientific certification, and may become a tool for political influence over the educational process.

As reported by Nova, the decision to temporarily withdraw from the crossroads does not signify the end of the protest. On the contrary — the professors have officially announced that they will join the student-led actions scheduled for June 28 — Vidovdan. This date was specifically chosen as the next symbolic point of resistance.

“Once again, the institutions have failed to do their job. But we will not give up. We are simply changing the format of our protest,” said one of the movement’s coordinators, quoted by N1.

Arrest of a Student: A Nervous Signal from the Authorities

Against the backdrop of preparations for the Vidovdan demonstrations, an event occurred that many observers perceived as a troubling signal from the authorities.

This week, officers from the anti-terrorism division of the Ministry of Internal Affairs arrested Stevan Tomić, a student of the Faculty of Physics, who had participated in recent blockades near the government building.

According to N1, the student was charged under anti-terrorism legislation — a charge that provoked a sharp reaction from both the academic community and human rights advocates.

“This is a clear act of informational pressure. The real message from the authorities to citizens is: don’t come to Belgrade on Vidovdan. They care about the numbers — they fear large gatherings,” commented Professor Medenica in an interview with the channel.

Tomić’s arrest has sparked new discussions within the academic community. Professors fear that the authorities may move from ignoring the protests to attempts at suppressing or discrediting them through force.

However, many activists view the incident as an additional incentive to participate in Saturday’s demonstration. “If a peaceful protest can be labeled as terrorism — then we must come out in even greater numbers,” say representatives of student organizations.

Vidovdan as a Point of Consolidation

June 28 — Vidovdan — has always held special significance in Serbian history. It is not just a commemorative date linked to the Battle of Kosovo in 1389. In today’s context, it is a day that civic movements and protest initiatives increasingly choose as a symbolic moment to demonstrate civic unity.

The author wrote in detail about the role of Vidovdan as a marker of civic protest and a reinterpreted historical date in the article “Echoes of History and the Clash of Shields: A New Test of Strength in Serbia” Today, this symbolism is once again becoming relevant.

This Saturday, students from the country’s largest universities are planning to hold a mass march and events in Belgrade. According to Nova, thousands of citizens are expected to participate, including not only students but also professors, representatives of trade unions, human rights organizations, and the broader public.

Organizers emphasize that the demonstrations will be peaceful and lawful. The main demands remain unchanged:

• rejection of the new version of the regulation on academic standards;

• cessation of pressure on professors and students;

• protection of university autonomy;

• prevention of the politicization of the education system.

Particular importance is given to the fact that the professors have officially announced their participation in these events, marking the merging of student and academic agendas.

This consolidation continues the civic trend within Serbian society, which the author has frequently discussed in previous articles. Today, Vidovdan is becoming a new rallying point for this broad spectrum of civic initiatives.

What the Authorities Fear

What is unfolding on the eve of Vidovdan gives reason to believe that the authorities are seriously concerned about the possible consolidation of civic protest. Arrests, warnings, and the rhetoric of officials all point to an attempt to cool public sentiment and to prevent a new mass wave on the streets of Belgrade — as happened on March 15 of this year, which the author covered in detail in the article “The Largest Protest in Serbia ‘15 for 15’ Has Ended”.

According to professors, the arrest of a student on terrorism charges is not so much a criminal case as a message to society: participation in demonstrations may lead to serious legal consequences.

In public statements, representatives of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and government experts emphasize the “radicalization” of student actions — although the students and professors themselves stress the peaceful nature of the protests and their openness to dialogue.

What is it that most frightens the authorities? Above all — the potential unification of previously separate movements.

Professors with their symbolic authority, students with their numbers and energy, civic activists and observers with their experience in self-organization — all of this, if brought together in a single movement, could challenge the authorities’ monopoly over public space.

An additional factor is the upcoming elections. In the face of growing discontent in both the academic and civic spheres, the authorities likely fear that the summer protest actions could evolve into a long-term political campaign.

Vidovdan will be not only a symbolic day of remembrance, but also a real test of maturity for Serbian civil society. Professors and students, united by common demands, are moving beyond purely educational issues — this is about the defense of fundamental rights, the autonomy of institutions, and the very idea of independent education.

For the authorities, it is also an exam: will they choose the path of dialogue and respect for civic initiative, or will they resort to intimidation and repression? Events in recent days show that pressure does not weaken the protest — it only encourages new groups to join.

What the authorities’ reaction will be — we will soon find out this Saturday. On this Vidovdan, Belgrade will once again become an arena not for abstract slogans, but for the citizens’ fight for the right to be heard.

As your humble servant wrote in the article “Echoes of History and the Clash of Shields: A New Test of Strength in Serbia” — the symbolism of this date for Serbian society is not an empty gesture. And now this “clash of shields” resonates louder than ever.