QUESTION: Mr. Armstrong, You are the only advisory firm that covers Serbia. I know you are familiar with Serbia, and you even appear on video here. Have you been advising the student rebellion? We could use your help.
DV
ANSWER: I am not at liberty to discuss such private consultations. There is no unified leadership. I have no problem advising any country if it genuinely seeks improvement. In some cases, there is genuine interest, like in Alberta, but the timing is not quite right. In the case of Serbia, this is akin to the 1848 European Revolution which began in Sicily and swiped Europe and even toppled the French government. Most the flad, including that of Germany, are the flags used by the rebellions.
Serbia’s student-led movement has dealt a historic blow to long-time leader Aleksandar Vučić, turning protests over a deadly railway station accident into an electoral challenge that has shaken the country’s political establishment. Vučić conceded defeat on Sunday, October 25, after a parliamentary election that pitted his Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) against the student-backed Student List. Although final official results were still awaited, Vučić acknowledged that his political camp had lost, estimating that the student-backed candidates would win between 135 and 140 seats in the 250-member parliament, while his side would secure 105.
The core complaints against Aleksandar Vučić in Serbia center on systemic corruption, democratic backsliding, and repression of dissent, which coalesced into a mass student-led movement following a deadly infrastructure collapse in 2024.
The primary catalyst for widespread outrage was the November 2024 collapse of a canopy at the newly renovated Novi Sad railway station, which killed 16 people. Critics widely attributed the tragedy to government corruption, negligence, and lack of transparency in public procurement. The students demanded accountability, but the lack of completed court proceedings and perceived impunity for officials fueled sustained protests .
Core Allegations Against Vucic
The protest movement and civil society groups have leveled several specific accusations against Vučić and his Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) mainly Corruption and Cronyism. The opposition and watchdogs accuse the government of ruling for private interests rather than the public, citing a clientelist model where goods and services are exchanged for political support. Transparency International recorded Serbia’s lowest score in two decades on its Corruption Perceptions Index in 2025.
Activists, students, and opposition politicians report an increasingly authoritarian environment. Allegations include police brutality against peaceful protesters, arbitrary arrests, and a campaign to silence critics. The Council of Europe’s Human Rights Commissioner noted reports of excessive force and humiliating treatment of detainees.
Serbia ranked 104th out of 180 countries in the 2026 World Press Freedom Index, its worst ranking ever. Critics accuse Vučić of verbally attacking journalists (at least 182 times in the first nine months of 2026 alone) and allowing pro-government media to operate with impunity while independent outlets face pressure.
Digital rights groups have documented the use of advanced spyware (such as Pegasus) against student movement members and high-profile opponents, with at least 14 people targeted as of September 2026.
Civil society groups warned that the October 2026 elections were held under conditions lacking “free and fair” standards, citing the misuse of public resources, intimidation, and a distorted media environment favoring the ruling party.
Vučić and the SNS have repeatedly denied all accusations of corruption, repression, and spying. He has dismissed the protests as a foreign-funded coup attempt, claiming the students are backed by foreign agents, a charge the movement denies. This is always popular Hillary blamed Putin, Romania cancelled election claiming Russian interference, and we hear the same claims from Germany and the UK. The PM of Britain has even now blamed BREXIT on Putin.
The political dynamic shifted significantly in the October 2026 elections, where the student-backed “Student List” movement mounted a historic challenge to Vučić’s 14-year rule, ultimately leading to his party’s defeat according to media reports.
Look, its going to be a difficult period going into January. As I have warned, even the EU itself is under attack and need an external enemy or the rising civil unrest in Europe will topple the EU itself.