Serbian President Vows To Defend Order Amid Ongoing Opposition Protests

Skirmishes with riot police were reported outside of the Serbian presidential building in Belgrade on March 17, with police firing tear gas against thousands of demonstrators who vowed to form a human chain around the building to prevent President Aleksandar Vucic from leaving. Speaking at a news conference in the building at the time of the protest, Vucic downplayed the number of protesters outside, insisting there were only about 1,000 people gathered there and describing opposition protest leaders as "fascists, hooligans, and thieves." On March 16, protesters demonstrating against Vucic were forced out of the state-run TV building in Belgrade about two hours after they stormed the facility. The protesters accuse state television of biased pro-government coverage and are demanding that Vucic resign.