A year after the first 24-hour blockades of Autokomanda, students in lockdown Belgrade faculties on Savindan, January 27, 2026, organized a new protest in Belgrade under the title "Knowledge is power".
The students also announced a new gathering - at Sretenje in Šumadija.
After gathering in front of the Faculty of Law, the students came to the building of the Rectorate of the University.
Students hung the sign "Students are winning!" on the Rector's building.
Photo: Katarina StevanovićStudent protest "Knowledge is power"
Education is not for sale.
Katarina Šćepanović, vice president of the Forum of Belgrade Gymnasiums, was the first to speak at the gathering and pointed out that "education is not for sale."
Photo: Katarina StevanovićKatarina Šćepanović
"Just like water, clean air and land are not, because who can sell off what he did not acquire? It should be said that education is and must remain a basic human right available to everyone, not just the minority of the richest. We believe that you feel the weight of this moment, for Serbian education, one of the most difficult," she said.
Actress Anita Mančić read the words of the famous Serbian poet Desanka Maksimović. She spoke from the main stage and, among other things, said:
"Today you stand where we were not allowed to stand. And that's why we say to you, learn, ask, doubt. When everyone leaves, you stay. When everyone is silent, you speak. When laws fail, be justice. Be human. In the name of those who were late, you who still have time - be better than us, because the world is still waiting for you."
Photo: Katarina StevanovićStudent protest "Knowledge is power"
Maša Samardžić, a student of the Fifth Belgrade High School, said that a system is needed in which the educated will not be the main enemy but the only ally.
"There are no worse people than those who oppose the enlightenment and education of the people. Such people would put out the sun if they could - said Dositej Obradović. While education is systematically neglected, the ceilings are falling down, professional staff are being fired en masse even though there are not enough lecturers. Forced administrations are being set up because absolute control comes first, not us, the students," Maša said at the gathering.
We are young, as she pointed out, but we are aware of what is happening before our eyes and what our professors are going through.
"A party booklet is more valuable than a real diploma, and obedience is more valuable than a real opinion. We do not agree to grow up in such a system where blackmail and indifference are daily weapons used against dissenters. That is why we stand determined and persistent in the common fight for a system in which the educated will not be the main enemy, but the only ally. Education serves to sharpen our vision and when they obscure our view with lies, it awakens the instinct of doubt in what is said, written and shown, to show us that maybe none of the answers offered is correct, and we have to come up with it ourselves," she said.
"The most important thing is to save face," she said.
Photo: Katarina StevanovićStudent protest "Knowledge is power"
Rector Đokić: The government is attacking the University with perversion
Vladan Đokić, rector of Belgrade University, spoke at the protest in front of the Rectorate.
"No government has ever been this cruel and malicious towards the academic community because the academic community did not want to be silent... It is attacking the University with its perversion and malice, it is attacking those who are dedicated to education, the youth and the future of Serbia, which is not theirs, the two most valuable categories of society, the youngest and the most educated. They are bothering them because they do not want to be silent and want to stay in this country. Those who have political levers of power apply pressure in different ways. Physical pressure, such as the intrusion of the police and Gendarmerie on the campus in Novi Sad, attempted raid on the Faculty of Law in Belgrade, surveillance and beating of students and professors..." said Đokić.
Rector Đokić: The regime attacks the youngest and most educated with its perversion
After the speech, the participants of the protest went to the Church of St. Sava.
As they passed by Ćaciland, they were under the watchful eye of the police cordon.
Photo: Katarina StevanovićPolice cordon in Ćaciland during the student protest "Knowledge is power"
The convoy calmly passed by Ćaciland and the General Secretariat of the President of the Republic, which houses the cabinet of Aleksandar Vučić, but with whistling and shouts of "Kerovi!".
When they reached the St. Sava Temple, the students broke the celebratory cake.
Photo: Katarina StevanovićStudent protest "Knowledge is power"
Support for students in Novi Sad
At the same time, students of several faculties in Belgrade are boycotting classes in order to support their colleagues from Novi Sad who decided to take this step because the police, at the invitation of the dean, once again expelled from the building of the Faculty of Philosophy, with the use of force. They previously gathered in the building to support associate professor Jelena Kleut, whose employment contract was not extended. Then they announced the blockade of the faculty.
Photo: Katarina StevanovićStudent protest "Knowledge is power"
When and where the protest is held in Belgrade
The gathering starts at 18 p.m. in front of the Rectorate building of the University of Belgrade.
In addition, students of several faculties, as well as citizen assemblies, have announced gatherings at different locations, from where they will walk to the Rectorate.
Photo: Katarina StevanovićStudent protest "Knowledge is power"
At 4:15 p.m., citizens will gather at the roundabout in New Belgrade, at 5:00 p.m. in Milutin Milankovića Park in Voždovac, at 5:10 p.m. at the Faculty of Law, and in front of the First Gymnasium, the students of this school and the Stari Grad Choir will gather at 5:30 p.m.
After gathering at the Rectorate at 18 p.m., they will go to protest walk to the Church of St. Sava. The column will go along Trg Republike, Ulica Kralja Milana, through Trg Slavi to St. Sava Temple.
Photo: Katarina StevanovićBozidar Djordjioski
Božidar Đorđioski comes out, he says, to every protest. He is retired, but he believes in students and what they do.
"I support them. They have done all kinds of things during this time. Our country is corrupt and that must change. I am here, as always, to support the youth. And if they will finally spoil the elections, I doubt it. As soon as they pass laws, there is nothing to do," he says.
Boycott classes
Apart from the announced meeting, students of several faculties are boycotting classes in order to support their colleagues from the University of Novi Sad who are boycotting classes because the professors of the Faculty of Philosophy Jelena Kleut the contract was not extended, after which the students of that faculty announced a blockade, and then the dean called the police, who threw them out of the building,
Students of the Faculty of Philosophy in Belgrade asked professors, assistants and associates to respond to the call for a boycott of classes, starting today and ending at the end of the week.
Photo: Katarina StevanovićStudent protest "Knowledge is power"
Students will decide on this today, Aleksandar Baucal, a professor at the Department of Psychology, told FoNet. He personally agrees with the call of the students, that the conditions have been met and that the modalities of such an action should be considered.
Students of Law, Architecture, Faculty of Dramatic Arts and Faculty of Political Sciences, as well as students of the College of Civil Engineering and Surveying, College of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, and College of Textiles for Design, Technology and Management are also participating in the one-day boycott on January 27.
Photo: Katarina StevanovićStudent protest "Knowledge is power"
Protest of the Independent Trade Union of the Faculty of Philosophy in Novi Sad
The independent trade union of the Faculty of Philosophy in Novi Sad will hold a one-hour protest in front of the faculty building on Wednesday, January 28. It was announced that the protest will begin at 13 p.m.
Photo: Katarina StevanovićStudent protest "Knowledge is power"
As the union announced, the reasons for this type of protest are "continuous violation of university autonomy and police violence against students and employees at the faculties of the University of Novi Sad."
The reasons for the protest are the illegal actions of the Ministry of Labour, the employment of veterans and social issues in the case of the registration of their union and other independent unions operating at the University of Novi Sad, and the unequal treatment of the University's teachers in the selection of positions.
Savindan protests: From Kolarčeva via Autokomanda to the Rectorate
