First impression: Empty stands
If the prosecutors Prosecutor's Office for Organized Crime led Mladen Nenadić hoped that an impressive number of people would gather at the protest for the defense of the rule of law on Saturday, they were sorely mistaken. The number of citizens who responded to the invitation of the Syndicate of the Judiciary and several other professional organizations to join "March for Justice" It was discouraging.
Observing from the point of view of the prosecutors who launched investigations for corruption, abuse of official position and falsification of documents against former ministers Goran Vesič and Tomislav Momirović and current Nikola Selaković, who are therefore exposed to daily whippings and blows under the belt of the Aleksandar Vučić regime, on February 21, 2026, society sent them a signal that they were actually left to their own devices.
Judges who refuse to obey directives from the top of the Serbian Progressive Party and stick to the letter of the law must feel the same way, in cases of beating demonstrators or indictments against policemen and thugs hired by SNS to beat those who oppose lawlessness.
Photo: Sofija Vukajlović/FoNetProtest for the rule of law / Photo: Sofija Vukajlović/FoNet
Second impression: There is no excuse that the number is not important
In Serbian society, the awareness of how much pressure those who publicly fight for democracy and the rule of law are exposed to is clearly not mature. And how it affects them when they are supported on the street by a few hundred people, and not by a few tens of thousands of demonstrators.
Citizens of Serbia behave like fans who stay at home to watch an important game with drinks, instead of going to support their team with their presence.
How would basketball or soccer players feel if they played decisive games in front of several dozen fans, even though they knew that some television was broadcasting them live? Those judges and those prosecutors who on Saturday called on the citizens to support them in their protest for the independence of the judiciary and prosecution must feel the same way.
If there was no N1 television, it would be as if nothing had happened at all, which could soon be the case if the government's plan to give it, together with Nova TV, comes true finally put on a muzzle to reporting.
March_for_justice_11Photo: Milica Vučković / FoNet
Third impression: Bora Čorba instead of Stevan Filipović
Even the speakers could not hide their disappointment due to the small number of citizens.
Instead of the words of Stevan Filipović You stand and watch. If you just stand and watch, the enemy will hang you one by one like this. Don't be afraid of death. She is nothing. You will see that in a few moments when I am dying. Death is not scary if you know why you are dying, the verse of Bora Čorba was heard in Serbian society this Saturday Fools die for ideals..
March_for_justice_09Photo: Milica Vučković/FoNet
Fourth impression: Coupling from outside and inside
Commenting on the protest in the studio of TV N1, "Radar" journalist Sandra Petrušić said that the number of employees in the judiciary ready to oppose the lawlessness imposed by the executive power with personal sacrifices could increase if they saw that the citizens stood by them, that they had the support of the people.
In other words: this monstrous system can only be seriously shaken from within, and people in state institutions who would eventually be ready to raise their heads and openly oppose the head of the progressive state, Aleksandar Vučić, can only be encouraged and mobilized by a large number of citizens on the streets.
That was not the case now.
If the citizens do not stand much stronger with the judiciary, the regime will break the back of those who stood up to defend the rule of law. Like teachers. Then the criticisms of the European Commission and any support from abroad are in vain.
The opportunity for remedial action still exists. But not for long.
