site.btaFading Traces of Student Protest: Belgrade’s Walls Tell the Story Before the New Academic Year

Graffiti and banners bearing messages from Serbia’s anti-government protests have become part of everyday life for Serbs, almost a year since social unrest swept the country following the tragedy in the northern city of Novi Sad, where 16 people were killed in a train station accident. A walk through downtown Belgrade reveals the story of the student protest movement, written on the walls of the Faculty of Philosophy at the University of Belgrade. The movement arose spontaneously, confronting the authorities and accusing them of corruption and negligence in the reconstruction of the Novi Sad facility. In response, students began leaving traces to commemorate their struggle, which started with a blockade of classes at more than 60 faculties across the country.

“Blockade – if not now, when?” is the slogan that appeared at the very beginning of the anti-government protests. Almost a year later, we set out to find the traces of the students in the Serbian capital.

Graffiti reading “You’re no philosopher if you stay silent,” “Everyone join the blockade,” “General strike,” “Closed faculties, open eyes,” “Corruption kills,” and other similar messages still remain on the walls of the University Rectorate and surrounding faculties. Yet alongside the students’ messages, other graffiti have appeared on building facades in central Belgrade, equating participants in the blockades with garbage collectors, for example. According to the anonymous authors of these new inscriptions, those taking part in the blockades are “terrorists” and “filthy people,” and in recent days such negative messages against students and protesters have become more frequent.

With the start of the new academic year approaching, the authorities have warned that they will not allow blockades of the educational process again.

If Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic calls early elections for May next year, as he himself has suggested, the campaign would coincide with the Easter holidays, since in 2026 Easter falls on April 12.

Meanwhile, just days ago, another emblematic anti-government mural disappeared from the wall of a residential building in central Belgrade. It depicted world-renowned tennis player Novak Djokovic in a moment from Wimbledon when he mimed pumping up a tire – a gesture through which “Nole,” as Serbs affectionately call him, expressed his support for the protesting students. Now, his image has been replaced by a large black blotch.

“When they went after Nole in their attempt to erase history, I can’t imagine how far they’ll go,” said the mural’s creator, known as The Pianist, who also authored another memorable slogan from the student protests: “Belgrade is the world again!”