A deafening sound of whistles and vuvuzelas echoed throughout downtown Belgrade on Saturday as a major rally was held against President Aleksandar Vucic and his government.
Huge crowds converged on downtown Belgrade for the rally, which is a culmination of months of almost daily anti-corruption protests that have posed the biggest challenge to Vucic's 13-year firm grip on power in Serbia.
Many city residents came out to welcome the protesters, most of them university students, who came into Belgrade from across the country, waving flags and chanting slogans.
With public transport suspended, columns of people flowed into the city centre from nearby municipalities.
A large number of cars also headed towards the city, decorated with Serbian national flags, greet citizens with their horns, creating a carnival atmosphere.
President Vucic has repeatedly warned that violence is planned at the rally and threatened arrests over any incidents. Vucic supporters have been camping in the city centre, further fuelling fears of clashes.
Hundreds of pro-Vucic bikers also placed themselves in a line in front of Serbia's parliament, seemingly to protect it if any protesters were considering gathering in front of it.
He's also warned and repeated claims that Western intelligence services were behind the protests that 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.
A 15-minute silence was held just before midday to remember the victims.
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.”
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,” warned the EU.
Serbia is formally seeking EU membership, but the incumbent government has been accused of stifling democratic freedoms while strengthening relations with Russia and China.
