Student groups led a protest in Belgrade on Monday, after a tense night in which hundreds of demonstrators tried to enter the capital’s parliament and clashed with law enforcement.
Serbian police said Monday that they have arrested at least 38 people who took part in Sunday’s protest against irregularities during the Dec. 17 election, in which Serbian President Aleksandar Vuicic’s Serbian Progressive Party emerged victorious, according to preliminary results.
The opposition group “Serbia against violence” has organized protests since the day of the elections, saying that there were electoral frauds, especially in the capital, and this has also been confirmed by international observers.
Some of the opposition politicians started a hunger strike.
On Sunday evening, hundreds of protesters tried to enter Belgrade’s city hall, breaking windows before police intervened with tear gas and rubber batons to disperse them.
Senior police official Ivica Ivkovic told reporters that those arrested are facing charges of inciting violent change of the constitutional order, of attempting to overthrow the government and of violent behavior. He added that eight police officers were injured, one of whom is in serious condition.
The opposition said the police beat some of its supporters.
On Monday, groups of students blocked several streets in Belgrade demanding that the authorities open the voter lists, after claims that many people who do not live in Belgrade have voted there. The students warned of further road blockades if their demands are not met.
The authorities have denied allegations of irregularities.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, who on Monday met with the Russian ambassador in Belgrade, Aleksandr Botsan-Kharchenko, described Sunday’s protests as an attempt to topple the government with foreign help, but provided no evidence for such claims.
“I was on the balcony of the presidency last night. That’s where my office is. I wasn’t scared at all. I have not fled to any foreign country. I didn’t hide in any of the bunkers. I will never hide from violent people. I will always be with our people, we will protect and preserve democracy. We will protect and preserve peace and stability in our Serbia”, said the Serbian president.
The Russian ambassador told his country’s media that President Vucic has “irrefutable evidence” that the West is encouraging opposition protests.
Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic thanked Russia on Monday, which, as she said, had already informed Serbia about the possibility of an uprising.
Serbia formally seeks membership in the European Union, but maintains close ties to Moscow and has refused to join Western sanctions against Russia over its aggression in Ukraine.