Vucic urged Serbian protesters to negotiate Feb. 5

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic suggested that students protesting in Serbia start a dialog with the authorities on February 5. This is stated in his letter to the Rector's Board of the University of Belgrade, the text of the message is reported by the local publication Blic.

"If university professors and students take the position that some of the demands have not been met, or they have not been met completely, it is necessary, in my opinion, to open a dialog about this, as well as about all other issues that are significant for overcoming the current situation. <...> I invite you to start conversations on February 5, at a time convenient for you, for the sake of the well-being of young people and the entire society," the letter reads.

Vucic added that he expects a response to his invitation. He also expressed confidence that the protesters realize the destructiveness of the situation in the long term, including for education and science.

The ferment of protest: how the political crisis in Serbia will end

The head of the Balkan republic's government has already resigned

Earlier, on January 30, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova noted the readiness of the Serbian authorities to listen to critical signals in the country.

Prior to that, January 28, Prime Minister Milos Vucevic resigned amid protests and divisions in society. He said he was satisfied with the results of his work over the past nine months, but the tragedy with the collapse of a canopy at the train station in the city of Novi Sad had cast a shadow over his government.

On the same day, he revealed that the protests, in which citizens also blocked highways and educational institutions, were organized from abroad. Vucevic also promised that those responsible for organizing them would be punished for what they had done, adding that it would not take long to figure out who they were.

After the collapse of the train station canopy in the city of Novi Sad on November 1, 2024, which killed 14 people, members of the opposition began to organize demonstrations in different cities of the republic.

Serbian authorities declared November 2 a day of mourning for the victims. Later, on November 4, Serbian Minister of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure Goran Vesic resigned after the incident. Also in November, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said that the dismissal was "only the beginning" and that a series of resignations would soon take place in the country.