1991 protests in Belgrade

1991 protests in Belgrade Devetomartovski protesti
Part of Breakup of Yugoslavia
A scene from the protest
Date	March 9, 1991 – March 14, 1991
Location	Belgrade
Goals	Political neutrality of Radio Television Belgrade Resignation of Dušan Mitević and four other editors and on-air personalities Resignation of Radmilo Bogdanović
Methods	Demonstrations, occupations, rioting, police violence
Resulted in	SPO pyrrhic victory[1] Dušan Mitević resigns Radmilo Bogdanović resigns Ban lifted on Radio B92 and RTV Studio B Vuk Drašković and Jovan Marjanović released
Parties
SPO-led anti-government protesters Civilian and student protesters Opposition parties: Serbian Renewal Movement Democratic Party New Democracy Serbian Liberal Party Government of Yugoslavia Ministry of Defence Yugoslav People's Army Ministry of the Interior State Security Administration (until 13 March) State Security Service (after 13 March) Government of Serbia Ministry of Interior Law enforcement of Serbia Government parties: Socialist Party of Serbia
Lead figures
Vuk Drašković Vida Ognjenović Dragoljub Mićunović Zoran Đinđić Vojislav Koštunica Borislav Pekić Slobodan Milošević Borisav Jović Veljko Kadijević Blagoje Adžić
Number
500,000[2] Over 10,000 policemen[3]
Casualties and losses
1 protester killed[4] 1 policeman killed[4]

This article is part of a series about Slobodan Milošević
Early life Public image Cultural depictions President of Serbia and Yugoslavia League of Communists of Serbia Presidency of SR Serbia 8th session Anti-bureaucratic revolution Gazimestan speech 1990 constitution 1991 protests Karađorđevo meeting 1991–1992 anti-war protests Croatian War Bosnian War 1992 constitution Sanctions Insurgency in Kosovo Dayton Agreement Education agreement 1996–97 protests Kosovo War NATO bombing Overthrow Trial Death Bosnian genocide case Elections 1990 1992 1996 2000 Family Mirjana Marković (wife) Marko Milošević (son) Marko Milošević (grandson) Borislav Milošević (brother)
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The 1991 protests in Belgrade happened on the streets of Belgrade, the capital of Serbia and Yugoslavia when a protest rally turned into a riot featuring vicious clashes between the protesters and police.

The initial mass rally that took place on 9 March 1991 was organized by Vuk Drašković's Serbian Renewal Movement (SPO), an opposition political party in Serbia, protesting the rule of Slobodan Milošević and his Socialist Party of Serbia, particularly their misuse of Radio Television Belgrade. Two people died in the ensuing violence, and the government then ordered the Yugoslav People's Army onto the city streets. The police detained several prominent SPO officials and banned two media outlets considered unfriendly to the government. The protests are referred to in Serbian as Devetomartovski protest, i.e. the March 9 protest, after this initial event.

The next day, in reaction to the events of the previous day, more protests drew large and diverse crowds, including leaders of the Democratic Party (DS), with some referring to it as a "Velvet Revolution". The next day still, the government supporters responded by organizing a counter-rally of their own. The protests ended on March 14 as the leaders of SPO were released from police custody. The government replaced the director of the state TV as well as the Minister of the Interior.