WP
Observers wonder: if this is a color revolution, why is there no bloodshed or shattered storefronts?
For several months, Serbia has been experiencing mass protests by students and opposition groups. Regular marches have taken place, affecting nearly two hundred settlements. Surprisingly, the closure of USAID — the agency once responsible for orchestrating the color revolutions, which was shut down at the behest of Donald Trump — has not yet diminished the intensity of the demonstrations. According to Bloomberg Adria, between 2001 and 2024 alone, USAID poured $937 million into various «soft power» projects in Serbia.
«The money for the protest leaders was given in advance, and they’ll do what they’re paid to do. The EU has already promised to take over the network in Serbia that USAID has built up over many years. I don’t think the United States will completely dismantle its well-oiled mechanism for promoting compliant governments and toppling non-compliant leaders. But change is overdue, and until the U.S. devises a new model, it’s good news that foreign actors will be left without new funding», said Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vulin. And he certainly knows what he’s talking about — he once had the opportunity to lead the Ministries of Defense, Interior, and Counterintelligence.
Recently, President Aleksandar Vučić revealed on TV Pink that he had only just learned about the foreign funds that have been used to dismantle legitimate authority over the past decade. «I am literally amazed at how much money has been invested in my overthrow. I thought it was 1.5 billion euros, but when I started counting it turned out to be twice that — three billion. For example, a fund called ‘Trag’ received 28 million euros for this purpose. Who has ever heard of it?» he revealed. According to him, the aim of this massive financial aggression is to undermine Belgrade’s independent policy, weaken its international position and «leave Serbia permanently behind Croatia, Bulgaria and Slovenia». He did not explain why he chose these countries as benchmarks.
In truth, as usual, Vučić is being evasive. At the end of last year, he hesitated to support a bill on foreign agents — introduced by the Socialist Party, a member of the ruling coalition — for fear that it might worsen relations with the West. Finally, on February 1, the president declared that the mass protests were linked to a direct attempt by foreign intelligence services to undermine sovereignty. Where had he been looking before, being so indecisive?
Recall that the riots were sparked by the death of 15 people when a concrete roof collapsed at the Novi Sad train station on November 1. Universities have been closed and highways and intersections have been blocked almost daily, but the organizers have prevented the situation from escalating into outright clashes. Their initial demands include the publication of reconstruction documents for the station, the release of detainees from any criminal charges, and the opening of criminal cases against those who attacked the protesters.
The Serbian authorities eventually made some concessions: more than 16,000 construction documents were released to the public, Vučić pardoned 13 protesters who were facing serious prison sentences, and the Ministry of Finance allocated additional funds to universities. In an effort to ease tensions, Prime Minister Miloš Vučević resigned on January 28, with Construction Minister Goran Vešić and several other officials assuming his responsibilities.
Almost immediately, the infamous «Russian trail» emerged. Local media reported that «a Western agency in the Serbian Foreign Ministry had been instructed to spread rumors about Moscow’s involvement in the protests».
There was also a subtle anti-China subtext. As part of its «One Belt, One Road» initiative, China was implementing an investment project to build a high-speed railway from Belgrade to Budapest. The reconstruction of the Novi Sad station was carried out by a Chinese company in cooperation with local firms. A completed section leading to the Hungarian border was to be inaugurated at the end of last year, but the ceremony was postponed for political reasons.
It should be noted that nothing in the Balkans is ever simple. Every significant political event here is a multi-layered cake. The current protests, for example, hardly fit the familiar pattern of color revolutions. Judge for yourself.
The marchers hold their demonstrations not only in the capital or in two or three big cities, but all over the country. They are warmly welcomed by local residents, who prepare snacks, offer overnight accommodations if necessary, and even set up tents. If the event is only for one day, taxi drivers will even offer free rides home in the evening.
How are the safety issues for the protesters being handled? In Novi Sad, for example, farmers escorted the marches on their tractors. In addition, veterans of the 63rd Parachute Brigade are protecting the demonstrators to prevent incidents like what happened in Belgrade, when a car drove into a crowd of protesters.
Another distinguishing feature is the absence of provocations against law enforcement officials. In a classic color revolution, a sacrificial victim among the police is considered an essential component. Here, however, everything is different. The students are remarkably polite to the police and generally obey the law. There’s even video footage of them applauding officers as they walk by.
And finally, perhaps the most striking aspect that surprises many: the demands contain virtually no political component. They simply call for transparency, respect for the law, and an objective investigation into the tragedy.
That’s what a Serbian revolt looks like — without bloodshed, burned-out cars, or smashed storefronts. And most importantly, the protesters are actually succeeding in getting their demands met. Pretty remarkable, isn’t it?