SILENCE AFTER THE MEETING: Public kept in the dark about what the Rector and Prime Minister discussed

Despite mounting public interest, NO OFFICIAL INFORMATION has been released regarding the meeting between the Rector of the University of Belgrade, Vladan Đokić, representatives of university groups, and Serbian Prime Minister Đura Macut. The secrecy has only deepened the mystery surrounding the SUDDEN RESIGNATION OF THE DEAN OF THE FACULTY OF LAW shortly after the closed-door talks.

At the same time, pressure on the academic community is escalating, with frequent THREATS AND DEMANDS aimed at restoring “normal” classes amid the ongoing STUDENT BLOCKADES, now entering their SIXTH MONTH.

Behind the closed doors of the Government building, the Prime Minister met with the university’s top officials — including the rector, the vice-rector for education, and four deans — but NOTHING HAS BEEN DISCLOSED about the content of their discussion. Even SNS party leader Miloš Vučević remained vague, simply stating that “every conversation is a new chance to find a solution,” while urging the Rector’s Council to “get out of the spiral of collapse.”

But for students maintaining the blockade, the question remains: How can there be a solution if the government refuses to meet their demands? Instead of offering dialogue, they say, authorities have intensified TACTICS OF INTIMIDATION targeting students, faculty, and university leadership.

“We’ve seen the resignation of the Law School dean, we’re facing threats from several faculties — even worse outside of Belgrade,” said Tadija Marinković, a student at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering in Belgrade. “They’re telling us we’ll face steep fines, professors will be punished, and we might even lose our spots in dorms, our scholarships, or face problems transferring to other universities.”

When asked whether these warnings are tied to continuing the blockade, Marinković replied: “Yes — and potentially losing our BUDGET STATUS, DORM ROOMS, AND SCHOLARSHIPS.”

FIND OUT MORE:

According to Dr. Oliver Stojković, professor at the Faculty of Medicine, a “FAKE RETURN TO CLASSES” is being pushed through a vaguely defined “hybrid” model — essentially FORCED ONLINE TEACHING, which he says violates university statutes and accreditation standards. “This pressure is coming directly from above, aimed at the deans,” he stated.

Meanwhile, the Dean and entire leadership of the Law Faculty resigned shortly after the government meeting, without offering any explanation. Their departure was swiftly followed by FALSE TABLOID REPORTS claiming similar resignations at the Faculty of Medicine, which the administration has denied.

Still, President Aleksandar Vučić dismissed the issue, implying deeper tensions at the universities: “I’m sure the resignations at the Law and Medical faculties are for different reasons. At the Medical Faculty, many honorable professors can no longer withstand the dean’s oppression. And as you’ve seen, four faculties in Novi Sad refused to align with the statement on police brutality — the problems in the ‘student paradise’ are only beginning.”

Professor Milena Dragićević Šešić disagrees, arguing that all of this could have been avoided if the government had FULFILLED STUDENT DEMANDS. “The government is now threatening entire faculties. Many deans may believe that stepping down could protect their institutions from retaliation — from privatization or sabotage. But we in the academic world are unfortunately used to this kind of blackmail,” she said.

The PRESSURE IS MOUNTING. According to sources from N1, professors across Serbia are under growing coercion to START ONLINE CLASSES ON MAY 5. Coincidentally, that same day marks the beginning of a STRIKE AT THE FACULTY OF MEDICINE, seen by some as a TOOL TO UNDERMINE THE BLOCKADES and reassert control over university spaces.

What’s behind the silence? The government may not be saying — but on campuses, the unrest is growing louder by the day.