On Saturday (May 17), Nis gathered the citizens of Serbia. Some came to the National Assembly organized by the Movement for the People and the State, where the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, will speak, while others came to the protest of the students in the blockade called "Elect(we)se". What was going on?
In Niš on Saturday (May 17th) on one square, a meeting of the Movement for the People and the State will be held, at which the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, will speak, and on the other square, there is a gathering of students in a blockade called "Let's fight.".
End of meetings
SNS supporters dispersed shortly after the student protest ended. Utility workers on the ground clean up the mess left after today's meeting of the Movement for the People and the State.
Students, together with other citizens, cleaned Trg kralja Aleksandra.
Students on Trg kralja Aleksandra
In front of King Aleksandar Square, the students of the University of Niš spoke. Student Mateja Nikolić, who was detained after the egg-throwing incidents on the occasion of the then-announced meeting of the top of the SNS in the Officer's House, now greeted the runners from Niš who were going to Brussels, reports the reporter of "Vremena".
Students Milica Najdanović and Dimitrije Prokopović addressed the protest.
A large number of people gathered at the student protest, which is taking place only half a kilometer from the National Assembly. People bang pots and whistles on their whistles.
The students observed 16 minutes of silence.
A student at the Faculty of Architecture in Belgrade, Đorđe Nikolić, told "Vreme" that today Niš was a divided city, just as Serbia is at the moment - "into the gathered students where I am right now and, I am proud to be in a group that does not step on the grass, that wants change, that wants elections and another group in the city center where Serbia is located, to which Aca Lukas sings and which pollutes the streets they walk on".
Nikolić adds that it does not speak about the people gathered there, but about the opinion of the one who gathered them. "By the very fact that he organized for them, he tells them that they don't deserve more than that," concludes our interlocutor.
Vučić: "The demands are over"
The President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, began his speech in Niš: "Right here in Niš, on March 21, not far from this place, some tried to abolish the right to freedom of assembly, to freedom of speech and freedom of a different opinion. They tried to abolish democracy and to once and for all seduce terror in our country."
Just that evening, he says, the colored revolution ended.
He reminded the citizens not to forget the influence of the foreign factor on the blockaders.
"Is it possible that the demonstrations here in Nis are led by people who openly support the recognition of Kosovo's independence," said Vučić.
And he added: "Kosovo and Metohija is Serbia."
While the president is saying this, only a day before in the north of Kosovo, a number of institutions that functioned in the Serbian system, but also since the beginning of the year, were closed. In addition, recently the deputies of the Serbian List in the Kosovo Assembly took an oath that they will "work to defend the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Kosovo".
Vučić said from the meeting: "There are no more of your demands, I am not interested in your demands, the story is over. Now I am listening to a people who are not arrogant, insolent and arrogant. A people who will not let idleness run their country."
He said that Nis was liberated tonight - "we made the biggest gathering ever in Nis. We will go to every city like that."
The president announced free public transportation in Niš from July 1, as well as free textbooks in all municipalities of Niš.
There will be an election, says Vučić, when the competent institutions make a decision.
In the end, he told Nišlij how much he loved them and repeated "the main message for the others: The demands are over. Niš is a newly liberated city. Vuk survived the winter, but he remembered well who wanted to destroy Serbia."
Address of the speaker at the National Assembly
The mayor of Niš, Dragoslav Pavlović, spoke at a meeting in Niš, reports our reporter.
In his speech, he points out that since the beginning of his reign Nis has made a lot of progress, focusing on construction in Nis and its development.
"We managed to reduce the number of unemployed by 20.000, and increase the number of employed by 30.000," said Pavlović in his speech, despite the fact that in February, around 1.000 people lost their jobs due to the closure of the Benetton factory, as well as JGP conductors due to the introduction of devices in city buses.
After him, pensioner Dragana Krstić spoke, criticizing the administration of the Faculty of Philosophy in Niš and the dean of that faculty, Natalija Jovanović, accusing her of persecuting other fellow professors to join the blockades.
Marija Stanković, a student at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Niš, spoke at the meeting of the Movement for the People and the State and said that she was not only at the meeting as a student, but as a part of Serbia "which is moving forward".
"I cannot remain silent about the violence that my city has gone through and I am disgusted by it," said this student.
Young men in balaclavas
Young men in phantoms are also noticeable, as well as other people carrying blue material to the van, reports the reporter of "Vremena". It is still not clear what exactly it represents.
Photo: Vreme/Ana Adamović
Photo: Vreme/Ana AdamovićAca Lukas sang on the Square in Nis
The "Vremena" reporter reports that a large number of people from off-line and organized transport buses got out of the vehicles that were stationed in Voždova Street near the main square. Traffic was diverted to other streets due to impassability.
Supporters of the Serbian Progressive Party are gathering in the city center on the main square, and the number is growing with the arrival of new buses from different cities of Serbia.
The smell of cigarettes, burgers and other food can be felt in the air, while cigarette butts, bags, water bottles and other garbage can be seen on the floor, despite the presence of containers.
An hour before the official start of the meeting, the organizers announced the address of President Aleksandar Vučić, and then Aca Lukas started singing on the mounted stage in the middle of the King of Milan Square, to the delight of the gathered people. He said there were tens of thousands of them in the audience.
Also, there is a large number of stands where people sign up to join one of the mentioned movements. In question are the Movement for the People, the Movement for the People and the State, the Movement for Serbia, the Movement for the Future Serbia, the Movement for the Future of Serbia, the Movement for a Libertarian Serbia and "We will not give Serbia".
Vučić: I am planning Ćacilenda everywhere in Serbia
"Vremena" reporter from the direction of Pirot towards the center of Niš, several buses of organized transport pass, among them the buses of Niš express, Bortravel, Mitić travel and others. The traffic police in that part of the city regulate traffic.
Public city transport buses are rare in Niš, while passenger buses full of people pass by all the time. According to the inscriptions on the buses, it can be seen that they arrive from Šabac, Bor, Leskovac, Bojnik and other places.
The central gathering of government supporters is at Trg Kralja Milana, where Vučić is expected to speak at around 18 p.m. While the main part of the student protest, which was announced for 18.30:XNUMX p.m., will take place on Trg Kralja Aleksandra.
In Niš, Vučić, when asked if he is making "Ćaciland" there as well, replied that he is planning "Ćaciland everywhere in Serbia" because "there are children everywhere who want to learn", reports N1.
Incident before the start of the rally
Before the beginning of the rally of the Movement for the People and the State in Nis, an incident occurred when a citizen tried to cross the Fortress Bridge, but found himself between the guardrail of the bridge and the fence set up by the rally organizers, not allowing him to pass, N1 reports.
Statement of the police VS. students
The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Serbia announced that a public gathering organized by GO SNS in Niš, which is being held in the period from May 16 to 18 in the area of the city, was reported to the Police Administration in Niš, and that in order to secure this gathering, it is taking all necessary measures and actions to ensure the safety of citizens and property in accordance with the provisions of the law.
They added that in accordance with the law, "persons who invite or organize unreported and illegal gatherings, and especially participants who commit a criminal act and disrupt public order in any way, will be prosecuted."
The Nis students in the blockade reacted to this announcement and said that they perceive the mentioned content as direct pressure and an attempt to intimidate citizens with the aim of preventing the announced public gathering and the expression of civil discontent.
"The tone and content of the statement, in which citizens are warned of the consequences if they gather outside the 'registered' gathering, represent a form of threat, contrary to democratic principles and basic human rights guaranteed by international conventions and the Constitution of the Republic of Serbia. We inform the public and competent institutions that we have no intention of canceling the protest, because it represents a legitimate and peaceful expression of the will of citizens who want to point out the injustice they are facing," they stated in the statement.
In addition, the students in Blockade announced that they are asking citizens to report to the nearest security guard if they notice any suspicious actions at the protest, so that in case of danger they can react and contact the police officers on duty.
‼️Dear citizens, colleagues,
Please report any suspicious actions you notice today at the protest to the nearest security guard, so that in case of danger they can react and contact the police officers on duty. Be alert and anything suspicious…— Students of the Faculty of Electronics in Nis in blockade (@elfakublokadi) May 17, 2025
"Be alert and film everything suspicious. Report all suspicious persons to the nearest security guards," said the students at the blockade of the Faculty of Electronics in Niš on the "X" social network.
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