BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) — Tens of thousands of people swarmed the streets in Serbia's capital Belgrade on Friday, staging a joyful prelude to a major anti-government rally on the weekend and dealing a blow to populist President Aleksandar Vucic.
The citizens of Belgrade came out to welcome thousands of university students who converged on Belgrade from across the country for the rally planned for Saturday that is expected to draw even more people.
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Protesters light flares as they gather ahead of a major rally this weekend in downtown Belgrade, Serbia, Friday, March 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
Protesters wave flags ahead of a major rally this weekend in downtown Belgrade, Serbia, Friday, March 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
Protesters gather ahead of a major rally this weekend in downtown Belgrade, Serbia, Friday, March 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
Protesters gather ahead of a major rally this weekend in downtown Belgrade, Serbia, Friday, March 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
People take shelter from the rain at a pedestrian underpass as they await the arrival of university students at a protest ahead of a major anti-corruption rally this weekend, in Belgrade, Serbia, Friday, March 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Marko Drobnjakovic)
A man sits as he and others await the arrival of university students at a protest ahead of a major anti-corruption rally this weekend, in Belgrade, Serbia, Friday, March 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Marko Drobnjakovic)
People cheer and greet university students as they arrive at a protest ahead of a major anti-corruption rally this weekend, in Belgrade, Serbia, Friday, March 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Marko Drobnjakovic)
Protesters light flares as they gather ahead of a major rally this weekend in downtown Belgrade, Serbia, Friday, March 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
Protesters light flares as they gather ahead of a major rally this weekend in downtown Belgrade, Serbia, Friday, March 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
A protester yells from the top of a tractor ahead of a major rally this weekend in downtown Belgrade, Serbia, Friday, March 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)
Protesters gather ahead of a major rally this weekend in downtown Belgrade, Serbia, Friday, March 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
Students and anti-government protesters march to Belgrade for a joint protest after taking a break in Nova Pazova, Serbia, Friday, March 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)
People welcome protesters from provinces who have arrived ahead of a major rally this weekend in downtown Belgrade, Serbia, Friday, March 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
People welcome protesters from provinces who have arrived ahead of a major rally this weekend in downtown Belgrade, Serbia, Friday, March 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
People welcome protesters from provinces who have arrived ahead of a major rally this weekend in downtown Belgrade, Serbia, Friday, March 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
People welcome protesters from provinces who have arrived ahead of a major rally this weekend in downtown Belgrade, Serbia, Friday, March 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
People welcome protesters from provinces who have arrived ahead of a major rally this weekend in downtown Belgrade, Serbia, Friday, March 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
People welcome protesters from provinces who have arrived ahead of a major rally this weekend in downtown Belgrade, Serbia, Friday, March 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
Serbian anti-riot police stand near the Parliament building ahead of a major rally this weekend in downtown Belgrade, Serbia, Friday, March 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)
Serbian anti-riot police stand near the Parliament building ahead of a major rally this weekend in downtown Belgrade, Serbia, Friday, March 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)
Dijana Hrka, center, mother of a young man killed in a train station canopy collapse, cries as she attends a protest ahead of a major anti-corruption rally this weekend, in Belgrade, Serbia, Friday, March 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Marko Drobnjakovic)
Dijana Hrka, mother of a young man killed in a train station canopy collapse, cries as she attends a protest ahead of a major anti-corruption rally this weekend, in Belgrade, Serbia, Friday, March 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Marko Drobnjakovic)
Police officers stand next to their vehicle ahead of a major rally this weekend in downtown Belgrade, Serbia, Friday, March 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)
Students and other protesters who have arrived ahead of a major rally this weekend march in downtown Belgrade, Serbia, Friday, March 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)
Protesters waving flags march ahead of a major rally this weekend in downtown Belgrade, Serbia, Friday, March 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
People wave flags as they wait for students to arrive ahead of a major rally this weekend in downtown Belgrade, Serbia, Friday, March 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
People gather ahead of a major rally this weekend in downtown Belgrade, Serbia, Friday, March 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
A man holding a placard sits on a tractor as people welcome students who have arrived ahead of a major rally this weekend in downtown Belgrade, Serbia, Friday, March 14, 2025. The placard reads 'Students are our Serbian heroes'. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)
People gather to welcome students ahead of a major rally this weekend in downtown Belgrade, Serbia, Friday, March 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
A man on a tractor talks to the people gathering to welcome students who have arrived ahead of a major rally this weekend in downtown Belgrade, Serbia, Friday, March 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)
A man wave the Serbian flag ahead of a major rally this weekend in downtown Belgrade, Serbia, Friday, March 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)
Students and other protesters who have arrived ahead of a major rally this weekend, march in downtown Belgrade, Serbia, Friday, March 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)
Students, who are on a march to Belgrade for a joint protest, shelter from the rain at a children's playground, in Nova Pazova, Serbia, Friday, March 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)
Students and anti-government protesters march to Belgrade for a joint protest after taking a break in Nova Pazova, Serbia, Friday, March 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)
Students and anti-government protesters march to Belgrade for a joint protest after taking a break in Nova Pazova, Serbia, Friday, March 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)
A woman cries as students and anti-government protesters pass trough her village as they march to Belgrade for a joint protest in Nova Pazova, Serbia, Friday, March 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)
Students and anti-government protesters march to Belgrade for a joint protest after taking a break in Nova Pazova, Serbia, Friday, March 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)
A woman cries and shouts as students and anti-government protesters pass trough her village as they march to Belgrade for a joint protest in Nova Pazova, Serbia, Friday, March 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)
Students marching to Belgrade for a joint protest, shelter from the rain in front of a store as they take a break in Nova Pazova, Serbia, Friday, March 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)
A student, who is on a march to Belgrade for a joint protest, sits in a shopping cart in front of a store in Nova Pazova, Serbia, Friday, March 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)
A woman and a child walk past tractors brought in by supporters of the Serbian president Aleksandar Vucic parked on a walkway in Belgrade, Serbia, Friday, March 14, 2025, as the country prepares for a major anti-corruption rally this weekend. (AP Photo/Marko Drobnjakovic)
People walk past tractors brought in and parked by supporters of the Serbian president Aleksandar Vucic in Belgrade, Serbia, Friday, March 14, 2025, as the country prepares for a major anti-corruption rally this weekend. (AP Photo/Marko Drobnjakovic)
Tractors brought in by supporters of the Serbian president Aleksandar Vucic are parked on the street in front of the parliament building, in Belgrade, Serbia, Friday, March 14, 2025, as the country prepares for a major anti-corruption rally this weekend. (AP Photo/Marko Drobnjakovic)
A person takes photos of tractors brought in and parked by supporters of the Serbian president Aleksandar Vucic in Belgrade, Serbia, Friday, March 14, 2025, as the country prepares for a major anti-corruption rally this weekend. (AP Photo/Marko Drobnjakovic)
Tractors brought by supporters of the Serbian president Aleksandar Vucic are parked on the side of the street in Belgrade, Serbia, Friday, March 14, 2025, as the country prepares for a major anti-corruption rally this weekend. (AP Photo/Marko Drobnjakovic)
Tractors brought by supporters of the Serbian president Aleksandar Vucic are parked on the side of the street in Belgrade, Serbia, Friday, March 14, 2025, as the country prepares for a major anti-corruption rally this weekend. (AP Photo/Marko Drobnjakovic)
Students and anti-government protesters march towards Belgrade for a joint protest after a break in Cortanovci, Serbia, Thursday, March 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)
An aerial view of students and anti-government protesters marching towards Belgrade for a joint protest after taking a break in Cortanovci, Serbia, Thursday, March 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)
Saturday’s protest is seen as a culmination of months of anti-graft demonstrations in the Balkan country that have posed the biggest challenge so far for Vucic’s decade-long firm grip on power in Serbia.
Flares, fireworks and flag-waving crowds filled the downtown streets in stark contrast to weeks of fear-mongering spread by Vucic's populists with an aim to dissuade people from attending the rally Saturday.
The autocratic leader has repeatedly warned that violence is planned at the rally and threatened arrests over any incidents. Vucic's supporters have been camping in the city center, fueling fears of clashes with the protesters.
At a news conference on Friday evening, a defiant Vucic again said that authorities have received multiple reports of alleged planned unrest and described Saturday's rally as “illegal.”
Vucic reiterated claims that Western intelligence services were behind the protests with an aim to oust him from power.
“I do not accept blackmail, I will not agree to pressure, I am the president of Serbia and I won't allow the street to set the rules,” Vucic said.
Students have led the nationwide anti-graft movement, which started after a concrete canopy collapsed at a train station and killed 15 people in Serbia’s north more than four months ago.
Earlier, police detained six opposition activists on suspicion of “preparing actions against the constitutional order and security” a day after an alleged recording of their meeting was broadcast on pro-government television stations on Thursday.
“The Serbian state will do everything to secure peace,” Vucic said. “Those disrupting peace will be arrested and severely punished.”
The protesters didn't seem to care. Marko Vukovic, a student from Belgrade said he came to “support my friends, colleagues and all the citizens who think for themselves, to fight for a more just Serbia.”
Many people cried, laughed and screamed with joy. Protesting students have struck a cord among the citizens who are disillusioned with politicians and have lost faith in the state institutions.
Previous student-led rallies in other Serbian cities have been peaceful while drawing huge crowds.
In Belgrade, tensions soared after Vucic's supporters, including former paramilitary fighters, set up a camp in a park outside the presidency building. Tractors were parked around the camp on Friday.
Authorities said that the parliament building across the street would be locked for the next three days because of security reasons. Railway traffic was suspended, along with many bus links to Belgrade.
Responding to tensions, the European Union's mission in Serbia said on Friday that “freedom of assembly is a fundamental right” and the safety of participants and institutions must be ensured.
“Violence must be avoided,” the EU said.
Serbia is formally seeking EU membership, but the governing populists have been accused of stifling democratic freedoms while strengthening relations with Russia and China.
Associated Press writer Dusan Stojanovic contributed to this report.
Protesters light flares as they gather ahead of a major rally this weekend in downtown Belgrade, Serbia, Friday, March 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
Protesters wave flags ahead of a major rally this weekend in downtown Belgrade, Serbia, Friday, March 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
Protesters gather ahead of a major rally this weekend in downtown Belgrade, Serbia, Friday, March 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
Protesters gather ahead of a major rally this weekend in downtown Belgrade, Serbia, Friday, March 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
People take shelter from the rain at a pedestrian underpass as they await the arrival of university students at a protest ahead of a major anti-corruption rally this weekend, in Belgrade, Serbia, Friday, March 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Marko Drobnjakovic)
A man sits as he and others await the arrival of university students at a protest ahead of a major anti-corruption rally this weekend, in Belgrade, Serbia, Friday, March 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Marko Drobnjakovic)
People cheer and greet university students as they arrive at a protest ahead of a major anti-corruption rally this weekend, in Belgrade, Serbia, Friday, March 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Marko Drobnjakovic)
Protesters light flares as they gather ahead of a major rally this weekend in downtown Belgrade, Serbia, Friday, March 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
Protesters light flares as they gather ahead of a major rally this weekend in downtown Belgrade, Serbia, Friday, March 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
A protester yells from the top of a tractor ahead of a major rally this weekend in downtown Belgrade, Serbia, Friday, March 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)
Protesters gather ahead of a major rally this weekend in downtown Belgrade, Serbia, Friday, March 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
Students and anti-government protesters march to Belgrade for a joint protest after taking a break in Nova Pazova, Serbia, Friday, March 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)
People welcome protesters from provinces who have arrived ahead of a major rally this weekend in downtown Belgrade, Serbia, Friday, March 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
People welcome protesters from provinces who have arrived ahead of a major rally this weekend in downtown Belgrade, Serbia, Friday, March 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
People welcome protesters from provinces who have arrived ahead of a major rally this weekend in downtown Belgrade, Serbia, Friday, March 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
People welcome protesters from provinces who have arrived ahead of a major rally this weekend in downtown Belgrade, Serbia, Friday, March 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
People welcome protesters from provinces who have arrived ahead of a major rally this weekend in downtown Belgrade, Serbia, Friday, March 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
People welcome protesters from provinces who have arrived ahead of a major rally this weekend in downtown Belgrade, Serbia, Friday, March 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
Serbian anti-riot police stand near the Parliament building ahead of a major rally this weekend in downtown Belgrade, Serbia, Friday, March 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)
Serbian anti-riot police stand near the Parliament building ahead of a major rally this weekend in downtown Belgrade, Serbia, Friday, March 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)
Dijana Hrka, center, mother of a young man killed in a train station canopy collapse, cries as she attends a protest ahead of a major anti-corruption rally this weekend, in Belgrade, Serbia, Friday, March 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Marko Drobnjakovic)
Dijana Hrka, mother of a young man killed in a train station canopy collapse, cries as she attends a protest ahead of a major anti-corruption rally this weekend, in Belgrade, Serbia, Friday, March 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Marko Drobnjakovic)
Police officers stand next to their vehicle ahead of a major rally this weekend in downtown Belgrade, Serbia, Friday, March 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)
Students and other protesters who have arrived ahead of a major rally this weekend march in downtown Belgrade, Serbia, Friday, March 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)
Protesters waving flags march ahead of a major rally this weekend in downtown Belgrade, Serbia, Friday, March 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
People wave flags as they wait for students to arrive ahead of a major rally this weekend in downtown Belgrade, Serbia, Friday, March 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
People gather ahead of a major rally this weekend in downtown Belgrade, Serbia, Friday, March 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
A man holding a placard sits on a tractor as people welcome students who have arrived ahead of a major rally this weekend in downtown Belgrade, Serbia, Friday, March 14, 2025. The placard reads 'Students are our Serbian heroes'. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)
People gather to welcome students ahead of a major rally this weekend in downtown Belgrade, Serbia, Friday, March 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
A man on a tractor talks to the people gathering to welcome students who have arrived ahead of a major rally this weekend in downtown Belgrade, Serbia, Friday, March 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)
A man wave the Serbian flag ahead of a major rally this weekend in downtown Belgrade, Serbia, Friday, March 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)
Students and other protesters who have arrived ahead of a major rally this weekend, march in downtown Belgrade, Serbia, Friday, March 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)
Students, who are on a march to Belgrade for a joint protest, shelter from the rain at a children's playground, in Nova Pazova, Serbia, Friday, March 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)
Students and anti-government protesters march to Belgrade for a joint protest after taking a break in Nova Pazova, Serbia, Friday, March 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)
Students and anti-government protesters march to Belgrade for a joint protest after taking a break in Nova Pazova, Serbia, Friday, March 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)
A woman cries as students and anti-government protesters pass trough her village as they march to Belgrade for a joint protest in Nova Pazova, Serbia, Friday, March 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)
Students and anti-government protesters march to Belgrade for a joint protest after taking a break in Nova Pazova, Serbia, Friday, March 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)
A woman cries and shouts as students and anti-government protesters pass trough her village as they march to Belgrade for a joint protest in Nova Pazova, Serbia, Friday, March 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)
Students marching to Belgrade for a joint protest, shelter from the rain in front of a store as they take a break in Nova Pazova, Serbia, Friday, March 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)
A student, who is on a march to Belgrade for a joint protest, sits in a shopping cart in front of a store in Nova Pazova, Serbia, Friday, March 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)
A woman and a child walk past tractors brought in by supporters of the Serbian president Aleksandar Vucic parked on a walkway in Belgrade, Serbia, Friday, March 14, 2025, as the country prepares for a major anti-corruption rally this weekend. (AP Photo/Marko Drobnjakovic)
People walk past tractors brought in and parked by supporters of the Serbian president Aleksandar Vucic in Belgrade, Serbia, Friday, March 14, 2025, as the country prepares for a major anti-corruption rally this weekend. (AP Photo/Marko Drobnjakovic)
Tractors brought in by supporters of the Serbian president Aleksandar Vucic are parked on the street in front of the parliament building, in Belgrade, Serbia, Friday, March 14, 2025, as the country prepares for a major anti-corruption rally this weekend. (AP Photo/Marko Drobnjakovic)
A person takes photos of tractors brought in and parked by supporters of the Serbian president Aleksandar Vucic in Belgrade, Serbia, Friday, March 14, 2025, as the country prepares for a major anti-corruption rally this weekend. (AP Photo/Marko Drobnjakovic)
Tractors brought by supporters of the Serbian president Aleksandar Vucic are parked on the side of the street in Belgrade, Serbia, Friday, March 14, 2025, as the country prepares for a major anti-corruption rally this weekend. (AP Photo/Marko Drobnjakovic)
Tractors brought by supporters of the Serbian president Aleksandar Vucic are parked on the side of the street in Belgrade, Serbia, Friday, March 14, 2025, as the country prepares for a major anti-corruption rally this weekend. (AP Photo/Marko Drobnjakovic)
Students and anti-government protesters march towards Belgrade for a joint protest after a break in Cortanovci, Serbia, Thursday, March 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)
An aerial view of students and anti-government protesters marching towards Belgrade for a joint protest after taking a break in Cortanovci, Serbia, Thursday, March 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)
