Serbian police arrested opposition leader Savo Manojlovic during a protest against the planned demolition of the historic Savski Bridge in central Belgrade on November 20, sparking accusations of intimidation by authorities. 

The protest reflects growing tensions in Serbia, where critics say development projects often proceed without adequate public consultation or regard for historical preservation. It adds to the mounting pressure on the Serbian government, especially in the wake of the recent Novi Sad disaster of November 1, when the collapse of the railway station canopy left 15 dead and two seriously injured.

Manojlovic, head of the Kreni Promeni (Go Change) movement, was taken into custody after being forcibly knocked to the ground by officers during a blockade of the Old Sava Bridge, according to a Facebook post from Kreni Promeni. About 200 demonstrators had gathered to oppose the bridge’s removal, which they argue is a blow to the city’s heritage.

The Savski Bridge, constructed in 1942 by occupying Nazi forces, has stood as a symbol of resistance and survival. During the German retreat in 1944, the bridge was rigged with explosives, but local teacher and resistance sympathiser Miladin Zaric reportedly defused them, saving the structure.

The decision to demolish the bridge is part of the controversial Belgrade Waterfront project, an urban redevelopment initiative criticised for alleged ties between the ruling regime and the project’s contractor, Millenium Team. 

After he was detained by the police, Manojlovic was sent to a Belgrade hospital by ambulance, with a police escort, Kreni Promeni said. 

Manojlovic later detailed his injuries in a post on Kreni Promeni’s Facebook page. “I have multiple cartilage, fat, cuff wounds and rib crunch pain which makes me move a little harder,” he wrote. 

“I call on all the citizens that no matter who they vote for, to fight for every street, park, bridge, city and Serbia. This is a fight between corrupt politicians in power who love money and people who love their country,” the opposition politician added. 

Opposition figures and activists have described Manojlovic’s arrest as part of a broader crackdown on dissent. “They arrested Savo Manojlovic, and it seems to me that they are doing all this on purpose to intimidate the people,” said Nebojsa Petkovic of the Ne damo Jadar (We Won’t Give Up Jadar) association. 

Petkovic also accused the government of using the protests to divert attention from recent controversies, including the tragedy at Novi Sad railway station. “The regime has launched an aggressive campaign against anyone trying to hold those responsible accountable,” he said. 

In response to the blockades, National Assembly Speaker Ana Brnabic alleged that the protests were part of a coordinated effort by opposition groups to destabilise the country. “The representatives of the opposition want anarchy, violence and destabilisation – nothing else,” she said. 

By late on the afternoon of November 20, most protesters had dispersed from the bridge, though a few dozen activists remained. Police maintained a strong presence in the area as work on the bridge continued.