Graffiti and banners bearing messages from Serbia’s anti-government protests have become part of everyday life for Serbs, almost a year since social unrest swept the country following the tragedy in the northern city of Novi Sad, where 16 people were killed in a train station accident. A walk through downtown Belgrade reveals the story of the student protest movement, written on the walls of the Faculty of Philosophy at the University of Belgrade. The movement arose spontaneously, confronting the authorities and accusing them of corruption and negligence in the reconstruction of the Novi Sad facility. In response, students began leaving traces to commemorate their struggle, which started with a blockade of classes at more than 60 faculties across the country.
“Blockade – if not now, when?” is the slogan that appeared at the very beginning of the anti-government protests. Almost a year later, we set out to find the traces of the students in the Serbian capital.
Graffiti reading “You’re no philosopher if you stay silent,” “Everyone join the blockade,” “General strike,” “Closed faculties, open eyes,” “Corruption kills,” and other similar messages still remain on the walls of the University Rectorate and surrounding faculties. Yet alongside the students’ messages, other graffiti have appeared on building facades in central Belgrade, equating participants in the blockades with garbage collectors, for example. According to the anonymous authors of these new inscriptions, those taking part in the blockades are “terrorists” and “filthy people,” and in recent days such negative messages against students and protesters have become more frequent.
With the start of the new academic year approaching, the authorities have warned that they will not allow blockades of the educational process again.
If Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic calls early elections for May next year, as he himself has suggested, the campaign would coincide with the Easter holidays, since in 2026 Easter falls on April 12.
Meanwhile, just days ago, another emblematic anti-government mural disappeared from the wall of a residential building in central Belgrade. It depicted world-renowned tennis player Novak Djokovic in a moment from Wimbledon when he mimed pumping up a tire – a gesture through which “Nole,” as Serbs affectionately call him, expressed his support for the protesting students. Now, his image has been replaced by a large black blotch.
“When they went after Nole in their attempt to erase history, I can’t imagine how far they’ll go,” said the mural’s creator, known as The Pianist, who also authored another memorable slogan from the student protests: “Belgrade is the world again!” Fading Traces of Student Protest: Belgrade’s Walls Tell the Story Before the New Academic Year THE NEWS FROM BULGARIA – NEWS AGENCY 2009-2025 2025-10-25 08:43:55 Latest news World news Country news Most important news latest news most important latest of the day Justice Petar Nizamov Feathers Petar Nizamov- Feathers Justice bg iustitia.bg iustitia iusticia usticia investigation Burgas Bulgaria news news of the last hour news of the day news of today Bulgaria news The news from Bulgaria blitz news top news most important most commented latest news Boyko Borisov news weather coronavirus news news weather facebook youtube facebook instagram news today news of the last minutes news today today news news bg news leading news hot news bg news site for news all news news bg news of the last hour latest latest news bg news of today news today news today news of the last hour latest news today news bg news news 24 hours news vesti bg novini news world bird bg bivol bg bivol trud bg novini latest news today novinite bg news hello bulgaria political party coat of arms delyan peevski scandalous Bulgarian National Television Free Europe Television scandal exclusive live tv live right now tv tv online tv program bg live now tv news online tv online live court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas district court Burgas appellate court Burgas prosecutor Burgas prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Prosecutor General Ivan Geshev Prosecutor Geshev Tsatsarov Ministry of Internal Affairs Burgas ODMR Burgas ODPR Burgas police Burgas district police Burgas prosecutor Tsatsarov SGS cases Varna court chairman of the SGS court decisions on civil cases decisions on cases Plovdiv court decision of the court decisions cases Varna court criminal cases district district court decisions work in the court SGS chairman of the SGS judges Sofia court post judges Plovdiv court Plovdiv judges Plovdiv Supreme Court Inspectorate Supreme Court Supreme Judicial Council lawyer lawyer criminal cases lawyer civil cases lawyer marriage cases lawyer administrative criminal law criminal process civil law civil process administrative law constitutional law
