Student activists in Serbia have staged a 22-hour blockade of the Radio Television of Serbia (RTS) building, in another escalation in ongoing student protests that have rocked the Balkan country in recent months.

The blockade, which began late on March 10, followed a controversial remark by an RTS journalist who referred to the student protesters as a “mob” during an interview with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic.

The protest, which saw students and citizens gathered in front of the RTS building in Belgrade, was spurred by anger over what they perceive as biased coverage of anti-government demonstrations by the public broadcaster.

The blockade of the RTS building started around 11 p.m. on March 10 when students, who have been protesting for months against government policies and the media’s portrayal of their cause, shut down all three entrances to the building.

Some of the protestors spent the night in front of the building, demanding what they called the “liberation of RTS”. 

The students declared that this was the final provocation that led to the blockade. “We won’t back down,” Vanja Kasikovic, a student from the University of Belgrade, told Serbian daily Danas. “It’s a shameful move, but sadly, we expected it.”

The blockade has gained significant attention, with hundreds more citizens joining the protest throughout the day on March 11. Some RTS employees, sympathetic to the students’ cause, addressed the protesters, inviting colleagues to join the demonstration. Employees were allowed to leave the building, but entry was blocked.

The protest comes amid heightened tensions, as a large rally is planned for March 15, which organisers say will be the culmination of months of anti-government demonstrations. The student-led protests have been fuelled by the collapse of a canopy roof at a railway station in November, which killed 15 people. 

During the blockade on March 10, riot police were deployed in an attempt to disperse the crowd. Tensions escalated when officers used batons to push back the protesters, leading to several violent clashes.

One police officer, identified as Lazar Baćić, was severely injured in the incident and was later treated at a local hospital. Vucic visited the officer, condemning the violence and offering his support.

Interior Minister Ivica Dacic defended the police’s actions, stating, “They [the students] attacked the gendarmerie.” However, student representatives accused the police of using excessive force. Independent media outlet N1 claimed that the injured officer was dressed in plainclothes and was struck by a gendarme in riot gear, not a student.

In response to the blockade, RTS opted to broadcast the morning programme from an alternative location, after protesters blocked access to the building. Although RTS staff were allowed to leave, they were not permitted to return, creating further disruption at the station. A number of employees reportedly stayed away from work on March 11, citing fears over security measures.

The students’ actions reflect widespread dissatisfaction with the Serbian government and the media’s biased reporting. Vucic, in his interview with RTS on March 10, had lashed out at the student protests.

“You will have to kill me if you want to replace me,” Vucic declared.