Violent Riots Erupt in Serbia on Christmas Day after ‘Unfair Elections’

Shielded riot police barricaded themselves inside Belgrade’s city hall as they fired tear gas at hundreds of opposition supporters who were trying to enter the building.

The demonstrators had gathered in the Serbian capital on Sunday as they called for the annulment of parliamentary and local elections which took place last weekend.

International observers said the election was unfair.

Some demonstrators threw flares at police and broke windows near the entrance of the building while others shouted “open the door” and “thieves” during Sunday night’s disorder. They also pelted the building with eggs.

Some chanted “Vucic is Putin,” comparing the Serbian president Aleksandar Vucic with Russia’s leader.

Later, the police pushed the crowd from the downtown area and made several arrests. There were no immediate reports of injuries.

Mr Vucic, who has said claims of voting irregularities during the elections were blatant “lies” promoted by the political opposition, called the protesters “thugs” as he addressed the nation during the disorder in Belgrade.

He added that they would not succeed in destabilising the state and said: “This is not a revolution. They will not succeed.”