Students in Serbia disassociate from far-right groups at protest

16 Janar 2025, 11:14Kosovo & Region TEMA
Students in Serbia disassociate from far-right groups at protest

Jan 16, 2025 - Serbia's student protests took a dramatic turn when some students distanced themselves from far-right groups seen at a demonstration in Belgrade on January 12. While the protest was initially organized by students, it was marred by the presence of extremist symbols and controversial flags, including one that depicted Kosovo with the message “No Surrender."

Protests, which began at the Faculty of Law, saw participants waving these flags, linked to the far-right youth wing of the Serbian Progressive Party (Novi DSS) and the extremist “Club 451.” Despite this, the student groups clarified they were not aligned with these extremist ideologies. They firmly stated on social media that they oppose any form of nationalism or separatism.

Notably, "Club 451," which has strong ties to neo-Nazi groups in Europe, shared a video of the protest showing controversial banners but without revealing the identities of those holding them. The organization has openly expressed anti-Kosovo sentiments and promotes Serbian nationalist values.

The student group "Students Blockade" made it clear that they disassociate from the far-right and any symbols that don't align with their constitutional values. They emphasized that the protest was about justice, not ideology.

With over 60 faculties blockaded across Serbia, students are calling for accountability following the deadly Novi Sad train station collapse, which killed 15 people. The protests are set to continue until their demands are fully met.

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