In front of the blocked RTS (Radio Television of Serbia) building in Belgrade, a powerful message echoed Friday evening: „There are no more ‘ours’ and ‘theirs.’ All of them are our children.“ The words came from a war veteran addressing the parents of students from Novi Pazar, who had traveled to the capital to support their fellow students in the ongoing blockade.
Now in its fifth day, the protest—initially led by Belgrade university students—has grown into a broader civic movement, drawing support from students at other universities, citizens, bikers, war veterans, and artists. Their key demand remains the same: a new public competition for the selection of members of the Regulatory Authority for Electronic Media (REM) Council.
Among those who spoke to the crowd on Good Friday, ahead of Easter, was Goran Samardžić, a veteran of the 1990s wars. He welcomed the Novi Pazar students and urged the crowd to greet them with a warm „Selam Alejkum,“ which was met with applause and cheers.
„Together with my fellow veterans, we’ve stood up to protect our children—our students. We made a vow before God that if necessary, we would lay down our lives for them,“ said Samardžić.
He openly reflected on his own experience, revealing he was wounded in Sarajevo in May 1992 at the age of just 20. He accused RTS and other media outlets of fueling the war through campaigns of hate and misinformation.
„My generation went into the war in Bosnia… We were told we were fighting to save Serbian lands and people from ‘the Turks’ who supposedly wanted to create an Islamic state in Europe. All sides raced to throw more fuel on the fire. But our furnace for spreading hatred and lies was right here, in this very building,“ he said, gesturing toward RTS headquarters.
Samardžić emphasized that both sides in the conflict believed they were fighting for the right cause, but were all misled.
„We believed the other side was evil, and they thought the same of us. That cycle of hatred still persists for many. But today’s generation hasn’t bought into those lies—and they’ve risen up to put an end to it.“
He praised the students for bringing hope and love into the public space.
„This future they’re creating is what we all want—and it’s our duty, as a failed generation, to rise up and follow them.“
To the parents of Novi Pazar students, he offered reassurance and unity.
„Don’t worry. There are no longer your children and our children. All of them are our children,“ Samardžić declared, earning another round of applause.
He added that over the past months, students have awakened a sense of pride and purpose in many—including veterans.
„After so many years, we once again feel honor, admiration, and gratitude—and we now carry the name ‘veteran’ with pride.“
He closed his speech by thanking the „true heroes of the present—our students, our children.“ The crowd responded with thunderous applause and chants of „Students, students!“
“Free the Public Broadcaster”: Students Block RTS in Belgrade
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