Female students mark International Women's day by leading protests in Serbia against corruption

BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) — Female students on Saturday marked International Women's Day in Serbia by leading the daily street protests against corruption, and thousands later joined a separate student-led rally pressuring the populist government.

Riot police deployed at a bridge over the Sava River in Belgrade to stop several farmers on tractors from reaching the city center where the protest rally was under way at a central square.

No incidents of violence were reported and the protesters later joined the farmers.

The female students earlier said they wanted to send a message decrying widespread violence against women in the Balkan country. In the northern city of Novi Sad, women protesters pelted a municipal building with eggs in protest over what they described as a sexist remark by a senior official.

University students in Serbia are behind almost daily rallies that started after a concrete canopy crashed down in November at a railway station in Novi Sad, killing 15 people.

Many in Serbia believe that the huge concrete construction fell down because of poor renovation work fueled by government corruption. Street demonstrations have become a challenge to populist President Aleksandar Vucic.

The students carried a banner reading: “Women in front rows," heading the marching column that passed through central streets in Belgrade and by the building hosting the state prosecutor's office.

The protesters held 19 minutes of silence, instead of the 15 held normally for the 15 victims of the canopy crash. The additional four minutes were dedicated to the four women killed in domestic violence in Serbia this year.

”I am here to support all women around the world, all mothers and fighters, and students of course," said Slavica Djajic, a resident of Belgrade.

The protesting university students have insisted on full accountability in the canopy fall, a call that has garnered widespread support among citizens who are largely disillusioned with politicians and have lost trust in state institutions.

Student-led rallies have drawn tens of thousands of people, becoming among the biggest ever in Serbia, which has a long history of anti-government protests. Vucic has described the rallies as a Western-orchestrated ploy to oust him from power.

The next big rally is planned on March 15 in Belgrade and Vucic alleged that “they will try to achieve something with violence and that will be the end.” He added that “many (demonstrators) will end up behind bars accused of criminal acts.”

All student-led protests in the past months have been peaceful, while incidents were recorded of opponents driving their cars into protest blockades or attacking the protesters.

The populist leader and his right-wing Serbian Progressive Party have held a firm grip on power in Serbia for over a decade, facing accusations of stifling democratic freedoms despite formally seeking European Union entry for Serbia.

Authorities have indicted 16 people over the canopy collapse, but many doubt that the actual culprits will face justice.

Serbian police officers block a bridge as students and citizens march to protest the deaths of 15 people killed in the November collapse of a train station canopy in Belgrade, Serbia, Saturday, March 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)

Students and citizens march to protest the deaths of 15 people killed in the November collapse of a train station canopy in Belgrade, Serbia, Saturday, March 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)

Students and citizens march to protest the deaths of 15 people killed in the November collapse of a train station canopy in Belgrade, Serbia, Saturday, March 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)

Students and citizens march to protest the deaths of 15 people killed in the November collapse of a train station canopy in Belgrade, Serbia, Saturday, March 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)

Serbian police officers block a bridge when students and citizens march to protest the deaths of 15 people killed in the November collapse of a train station canopy in Belgrade, Serbia, Saturday, March 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)

Serbian police officers block a bridge as students and citizens march to protest the deaths of 15 people killed in the November collapse of a train station canopy in Belgrade, Serbia, Saturday, March 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)

People march in support of women on the International Women's Day in Belgrade, Serbia, Saturday, March 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)

A girl holds a banner reads: "Feminism has no boundaries" during march in support of women on the International Women's Day in Belgrade, Serbia, Saturday, March 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)

People march in support of women on the International Women's Day in Belgrade, Serbia, Saturday, March 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)

People march in support of women on the International Women's Day in Belgrade, Serbia, Saturday, March 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)

People march in support of women on the International Women's Day in Belgrade, Serbia, Saturday, March 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)

People march in support of women on the International Women's Day in Belgrade, Serbia, Saturday, March 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)

People march in support of women on the International Women's Day in Belgrade, Serbia, Saturday, March 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)

A street vendor sells flowers during the International Women's Day in Belgrade, Serbia, Saturday, March 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)

People march in support of women on the International Women's Day in Belgrade, Serbia, Saturday, March 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)

Women hold a banner reads: "Women in the front rows" during a march in support to the women on International Women's Day in Belgrade, Serbia, Saturday, March 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)

MILAN (AP) — Norwegian cyclist Fredrik Dversnes claimed the biggest victory of his career as he won the 15th stage of the Giro d’Italia on Sunday, while Jonas Vingegaard remained in the overall lead heading into the final week.

Dversnes won from a four-man breakaway that escaped early on the flat 157-kilometer (98-mile) route that started in Voghera and ended with four laps of the finishing circuit in Milan.

The Uno-X Mobility rider edged out his fellow escapees by almost a bicycle length, with Mirco Maestri finishing second and Martin Marcellusi third.

It is the first Giro for Dversnes and his team.

“Super good help from the other guys in the breakaway … They were really, really strong today,” Dversnes said. "I knew I had good opportunities because I’m pretty good at going in breakaways, so this was my big shot.

“I’ve been joking this year that I will try to trick the peloton in one of these sprint stages, so I really wanted to do that and prove that, so super glad to make it. It's big. It’s a really big and incredible feeling.”

Vingegaard, who had seized control of the race on Saturday, finished safely in the peloton to maintain his overall advantage of 2:26 over Afonso Eulálio, with Felix Gall 24 seconds further back.

The race jury decided to neutralize Sunday's stage for the last lap after several riders — including Vingegaard — complained about the road surface and the placing of the barriers. The overall times were taken at the last passage under the finish arch, before the start of the last lap.

“Maybe today was not the most safe road, so to speak, but we tried to speak with the organization and they really listened to us,” Vingegaard said. “So I want to thank the organization as well for listening to what we had to say today.”

Monday sees the Giro’s third and final rest day before Tuesday’s brutal 16th stage. The 113-kilometer route from Bellinzona includes five classified climbs, including the top-category slog to the finish in Carì.

The Giro ends on May 31 in Rome.

The women’s Giro from May 30-June 7 will be defended by Italian rider Elisa Longo Borghini.

AP cycling: https://apnews.com/hub/cycling

Denmark's Jonas Vingegaard wears the pink jersey of the race overall leader as he stands on the podium after completing the 15th stage of the Giro d'Italia cycling race, from Voghera to Milan, Italy, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (Massimo Paolone/LaPresse via AP)

Norway's Fredrik Dversnes Lavik, left, celebrates winning the 15th stage of the Giro d'Italia cycling race, from Voghera to Milan, Italy, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (Marco Alpozzi/LaPresse via AP)

Norway's Fredrik Dversnes Lavik celebrates winning the 15th stage of the Giro d'Italia cycling race, from Voghera to Milan, Italy, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (Fabio Ferrari/LaPresse via AP)

Pink jersey Denmark's Jonas Vingegaard, center, pedals during Stage 15 of the Giro d'Italia cycling race, from Voghera to Milan, Italy, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (Fabio Ferrari/LaPresse via AP)

The pack of riders pedals during the 15th stage of the Giro d'Italia cycling race, from Voghera to Milan, Italy, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (Gian Mattia D'Alberto/LaPresse via AP)

Denmark's Jonas Vingegaard wearing the pink jersey of the race overall leader, waves to fans ahead of the 15th stage of the Giro d'Italia cycling race, from Voghera to Milan, Italy, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (Massimo Paolone/LaPresse via AP)