Serbian students march to Belgrade ahead of election rally
Several columns of students and citizens from across Serbia arrived in Belgrade on Wednesday after days of walking to attend a campaign rally by the Students’ List movement ahead of parliamentary elections scheduled for Oct. 25.
The marchers gathered at Students’ Square, where they were welcomed with music, flares and fireworks. Participants received medals and certificates of appreciation, while several addressed the crowd, local media outlet Insajder reported.
Groups arrived from Sabac, Valjevo, Gornji Milanovac, Novi Sad and Zajecar for the final campaign rally, scheduled for Thursday at Slavija Square.
The column from eastern Serbia reached the capital after six days of walking, covering approximately 240 kilometres from Zajecar. Other groups arrived from western Serbia via Obrenovac and Cukarica, while participants from Novi Sad entered Belgrade through New Belgrade and Branko’s Bridge.
Residents along the routes welcomed the marchers and offered food and refreshments despite reports of exhaustion and injuries among some participants.
Traffic was halted on Vasa Carapica Street, while a metal fence was erected between the Rectorate and the National Theatre to provide additional space for pedestrians. Police officers were also present at Republic Square.
Albanian students continue protests over education
Meanwhile, university students in Albania continued demonstrations in Tirana on Wednesday, marking the ninth day of protests demanding improvements in education conditions.
The demonstrations began on Oct. 13 and have drawn support from high school students, citizens and academic staff from several universities.
The latest protest began peacefully outside the prime minister’s office before moving to the Education Ministry. Demonstrators later returned to the government headquarters, where some threw stones and Molotov cocktails at the building and security forces.
Prime Minister Edi Rama renewed his call for dialogue with the students as tensions escalated.
Hundreds of police officers were deployed to the demonstrations. Separately, the Albanian University Academic Staff Union announced a boycott at universities across the country.
The protests highlight continuing tensions over education conditions in Albania, as students press authorities for changes and calls for dialogue have yet to resolve the dispute.
Source:AA
