Description: The Serbian government has deployed tanks and other military equipment on the streets of the country’s capital, Belgrade, as part of the military parade scheduled for 20 Sep. The move raised fears that violent clashes could erupt during the parade and President Aleksandar Vucic would use the occasion to deploy the army indefinitely, causing even further civil unrest in the country. Protests have been ongoing for more than a year as several civil groups have challenged Vucic’s authoritarian rule, censorship of media outlets and connections to organized crime. The Serbian President earlier last month called for a dialogue with the protesters, an offer which has been met with adamant refusal and countered with demands for early elections.
Impact: The military parade in Belgrade on 20 Sep would be most definitely met with protests as it symbolizes Vucic’s reign of power in the country’s modern-day history. The country’s political crisis is entering a period of severe escalation as no compromises have been materialized between the government and the protesters. Violence and unrest has become an almost daily occurrence across the country as protesters refuse to engage the incumbent government in negotiations while Vucic still seems reluctant to call for early elections. The civil unrest and instability in the country would persist in the foreseeable future while the military parade on 20 Sep significantly raises the risk of more violence depending on the government’s reaction which could exploit the potential unrest to deploy the military as a countering force.