By Stuart Lau & James Chater, BBC News

Massive anti-government protests in Serbia turned violent Saturday night as police clashed with demonstrators in the capital, Belgrade. The crowd, estimated at around 140,000 people, was one of the largest in months, with protesters demanding early elections and the resignation of President Aleksandar Vučić.

Led largely by students, the demonstration echoed growing unrest over what protesters describe as entrenched corruption, declining democratic institutions, and authoritarian governance under Vučić, who has held power for 12 years. Chants of “We want elections!” filled the streets.

Tensions escalated when riot police deployed tear gas and stun grenades to disperse sections of the crowd. Dozens of demonstrators were arrested in the chaos.

President Vučić responded by accusing the protest movement of being part of a foreign-backed attempt to destabilize the country. “They wanted to topple Serbia, and they have failed,” he posted on Instagram.

Authorities claimed five individuals were arrested Friday for allegedly plotting to overthrow the government. Serbia’s Higher Court confirmed their detention.

Interior Minister Bratislav Gašić denounced what he called “violent extremism” by demonstrators and promised that those responsible would face legal consequences.

The ongoing protests, which have rippled through the country for months and led to university shutdowns, have shaken Vučić’s administration. His term ends in 2027, and parliamentary elections are currently set for the same year. Despite mounting pressure, he has repeatedly rejected calls for snap elections.

His ruling Progressive Party controls a strong majority in parliament, holding 156 of 250 seats.

Opposition figures accuse Vučić and his allies of corruption, ties to organized crime, political repression, and curbing press freedoms—allegations the government denies.

Vučić has also come under scrutiny for maintaining close ties to Russia. Serbia remains a candidate for European Union membership but has refused to adopt EU sanctions against Moscow over the war in Ukraine.

Among Saturday’s protestors was Sladjana Lojanovic, a 37-year-old farmer from the northern town of Sid. “The institutions have been captured… there’s so much corruption,” she told Reuters. “Elections are the answer, but I don’t believe he’ll step down willingly.”

Public anger intensified after a deadly tragedy in November, when the roof of the Novi Sad railway station collapsed, killing 16 people. Widespread outrage over the incident—blamed by many on corruption and mismanagement—sparked the current protest wave. The former prime minister resigned in its aftermath.

Saturday’s rally ended with a pre-recorded message from protest organizers urging the public to “take freedom into your own hands” and declaring that Serbians had been given the “green light.”

“The authorities had time and every opportunity to avoid escalation,” organizers later wrote in an Instagram statement. “Instead, they chose violence and repression. Any radicalization is now their responsibility.”