Russian ambassador calls situation with protests in Serbia serious

The situation in Serbia in connection with the protests that have been going on since November last year is serious, and the demonstrations may "shake the situation". This was reported by Russian Ambassador to Belgrade Alexander Botsan-Kharchenko on February 8.

"Indeed, the situation is very serious, it is such that it can sway the situation, quite stable in Serbia lately, and most importantly, greatly hinder the development plans, which are not only proclaimed by the leadership - President [Aleksandar Vucic] and the government, but part of which is being successfully implemented, steps for further implementation are outlined, and there are already results," he said in a conversation with RIA Novosti.

According to the diplomat, the economic growth in the country is currently higher than the pan-European one - the GDP growth in 2024 in Serbia is 3.9%. Botsan-Kharchenko added that under the current government, Serbia has achieved good indicators in the social order, which the country did not have before.

The Russian ambassador said that in the situation with the protests there is an interference of external factors or an attempt to launch a color revolution. He noted that the protesters do not have any political agenda - they are people whose feelings have been taken advantage of "from the outside".

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

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

Earlier in the day, it was reported that schools and theaters in Serbia joined the student protests caused by the tragedy in Novi Sad. It is reported that the employees of theaters, educational and other institutions in Belgrade, Novi Sad and several other cities have announced a week-long strike in support of the students.

Prior to that, January 28, Prime Minister Milos Vucevic resigned amid the protests and the split 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 staging demonstrations in various 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, Vucic said that this dismissal "was only the beginning" and that the country would soon see a series of resignations.

The same month, protesters in Serbia blocked the Varadin bridge over the Danube River, one of the main bridges in Novi Sad, demanding the dismissal of the country's leadership after the tragedy at the train station.