Protest in Valjevo, Aug. 14 2026 (Photo: PrinrScreen You Tube)
A student-led protest called Valjevo Remembers took place in Valjevo on Aug. 14 where one year ago police used force against protesters. In addition to speeches the protest included a march through the city.
The speeches began with a reading of the police oath and asking officers if their duty is to defend the government or the people, after which Vladimir Jankovic, a former police colonel from Valjevo, began his address to the demonstrators with "Good evening, free Serbia."
Jankovic said he lost his job for abiding by the oath, adding that police assaulted students and other young people the most because they obviously fear them the most. One student speaker said on behalf of the students that "Serbia wins when the students win" and that "next Aug. 14, the city, the country will be free, without fear, because law and justice will finally prevail."
The Serbian Interior Ministry said in a press release that around 3,500 people were present at the peak of the Aug. 14 rally. The ministry's statement reiterated that the assembly was not announced to police. The protests in Valjevo, held after multiple instances of shops whose owners support the student protest movement having their windows broken, turned violent during the night on Aug. 14-15, 2025. The brutality employed by police against the people of the city caused more than 60 to seek medical assistance for their injuries. Some 20 police were injured too.
To get full access to all content of interest see our
Subscription offer
Or
Register for free
And read up to 5 articles each month.
Already have an account? Please Log in.