The protest, held under the slogan "Serbia, can you hear us?", in Novi Sad was marked by new clashes between demonstrators and law enforcement agencies. The reason for the protest, organized by students, was the violation of the university's autonomy and the presence of police in the buildings of the Faculty of Philosophy and the Faculty of Sports and Physical Education.

The first clashes took place in front of the Faculty of Philosophy at the University of Novi Sad, where special forces and gendarmerie used tear gas, pepper spray, and stun grenades.

Later it was reported that the police had "cleared" the university campus of students, teachers, citizens, and medical personnel.

About a hundred meters from the Rector's Office, on Tsar Lazar Boulevard, gendarmerie vehicles and an ambulance were parked. Hundreds of gendarmerie members were present at the scene. A number of protesters reported that they had been subjected to violence by law enforcement officers.

"We have never seen anything like this, it doesn't happen anywhere else in the world," said a husband and wife who hid in their car after the police intervention began.

"We have never seen anything like this, it doesn't happen anywhere else in the world," said a husband and wife who took refuge in their car after the police intervention began.  

Civil activists reminded that Serbian citizens have the right, guaranteed by the Constitution and international conventions, to freely express their opinions, to assemble and protest peacefully and without fear of reprisals.

N1 television reported that police attacked journalist Emir Karimanić from the 021.rs portal while he was covering the protest.

The escalation occurred after the Serbian Interior Ministry announced that it had received information about the intentions of protesters in Novi Sad to attack police officers stationed in front of the Faculty of Philosophy and the Faculty of Sports and Physical Education in the city.

The ministry called on all those gathered to obey the law and not to show aggression towards law enforcement officers. 

"Otherwise, the police will be forced to respond and take all measures provided for by law to protect their own lives, security, and to maintain stable public order and peace," the ministry said. 

For more than 10 months now, Serbia has been engulfed in the largest protests in its history. The reason is the collapse of the canopy at the train station in Novi Sad on November 1, which killed 16 people. Protesters blame Aleksandar Vučić's corrupt regime for the poor quality of the canopy repairs. | BGNES