Serbian Opposition Marches in Support of Arrested Protesters

Thousands of people gathered in front of a Belgrade police station on Monday evening to show support for those arrested during protests against alleged electoral fraud in Serbia’s recent parliamentary and local elections. The demonstrations, which have been ongoing for eight consecutive days, remained peaceful on Monday despite roadblocks and a gathering in front of the state electoral commission building. The opposition coalition “Serbia against violence” signaled that the protests would continue. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic condemned the violence that occurred the previous evening and accused foreign actors of interfering. The protesters, mainly students organized under the “Borba” movement, are calling for a revision of the voter roll, claiming it was the source of the alleged fraud. International observers, including representatives from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), reported irregularities in the electoral process. German and Brussels officials expressed concern, while Russian officials accused the West of destabilizing the country. The crisis could potentially end if the opposition’s demands for the annulment and re-run of the elections are met.