Protests erupted in Niš on Thursday over the arrest of law student Mateja Nikolić, who was detained the previous night on suspicion of violent conduct at a public gathering after allegedly pushing a 26-year-old Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) activist. His hearing at the Higher Public Prosecutor’s Office was postponed until Friday, with his lawyer, Vladan Mančić, stating police lacked capacity to transport him and that the arrest was politically motivated, part of a campaign against the Student List, according to N1 .
A support rally for Nikolić began at 5 p.m. outside Niš’s Basic Court, while SNS simultaneously held a gathering near the National Theater. Clashes broke out twice between the two groups on Sinđelićev Square, with stewards and police briefly intervening to separate them. As Student List supporters marched toward the police headquarters, SNS activists followed, chanting “Aco Srbine” and “Ratko Mladić” about 100 meters from the building, but authorities prevented serious incidents .
Milena Petrović, a Student List parliamentary candidate, addressed the crowd outside the police station, accusing SNS of staging provocations, including placing women at the front of their rallies. “Do you really think you can cover up Šapić’s broken jaw or daily provocations by falsely accusing Mateja Nikolić of violence?” she said, referring to a recent altercation involving another opposition figure .
The Ministry of Interior confirmed Nikolić’s arrest, stating he pushed an SNS activist who later sought medical treatment. Nikolić’s defense requested surveillance footage from the intersection near the court, where the incident occurred, to verify the claims .
