Name: Serbia: Student protest movement changes tactics
Uploaded: 2026-01-16T17:12:20.087Z
Duration: 3 min 22 s
Description: For over a year, students across Serbia took to the streets, protesting against corruption and negligence. Now, they have changed tack and are preparing for a snap election — whenever the president calls one.

For over a year, students across Serbia took to the streets, protesting against corruption and negligence. Now, they have changed tack and are preparing for a snap election — whenever the president calls one.

Belgrade

Serbian students have altered their protest strategy, moving from mass demonstrations to direct, one-on-one conversations with citizens across the country. This new approach, part of the 'Student in Every Village' campaign, aims to bypass pro-government media portrayals and connect with the broader public.

The students are preparing for potential early parliamentary elections by selecting non-political expert candidates and forming campaign teams. Despite growing repression, including the dismissal of a supportive university professor, the movement continues to receive both encouragement and scrutiny from citizens as it looks ahead to a challenging year.

Serbia: Student protest movement changes tactics

After over a year of protests, students in Serbia have changed tactics. They've swapped megaphones and slogans for one-on-one conversations. As part of their Student in Every Village campaign, they're crisscrossing the country, talking to citizens and finding out how their message resonates with people outside their circle of supporters. They want people to get to know them without the filter of pro-government tabloids. We've seen in the regime's media that everything and everything is written about us, that lies are everywhere, and that it's necessary for someone to come to our citizens, so that we can show that we're people, that we're not demons, terrorists, or whatever we're shown on TV every day. After the wave of mass protests subsided and university blockades were lifted, one demand remained – early parliamentary elections. The movement is now rapidly changing in order to be ready when elections come. The students are selecting candidates, forming campaign teams, training observers, and drafting programmes, mostly on-the-go, between lectures and studies. We're simply procrastinating because of how long we've had to wait, and how much we think it's necessary for someone to do something. And at the end of the day, we've seen that if we don't do something, no one will. Most citizens approach them with words of support. My children, I've done my part, but it's up to you. But we need to give you support. You have all my children's support. Only progress. All support. Thank you very much. They have the strength, the energy, the will, the creativity, and that's why it's a win-win combination, and that's why I support them. But support is not always unconditional. Some want more information, who the candidates are, and what policies they stand for. We're asking for security. Working out the policies. I've got it. It's all in our position. You know, not yours. That's right. I agree. What do you want? Cops are very bad. If you're interested, here's a list of students. It's a group of citizens that the students will nominate when the elections are announced. And on that list there can't be politicians, neither the ruling coalition, nor the opposition. And there can't be students, because we want our lists to be exclusively of experts, people who are professional in their fields, from doctors, engineers to farmers, farmers. In the meantime, repression is deepening. That's why these students are heading to a protest in support of Professor Jelena Klaut of the University of Novi Sad, who lost her job after backing the students. The students know that the year ahead will be long and difficult, and that there are no quick solutions. For more UN videos visit www.un.org

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