POLITICO spoke to an opposition lawmaker who said he was beaten by masked men as demonstrations were met with a violent response.

Friday brought another episode of tense confrontation between anti-government protesters and police in Serbia. Demonstrators had gathered in front of the army headquarters building in the capital.

After more than nine months of largely peaceful anti-corruption protests, Serbia’s streets have erupted in clashes between riot police, student-led demonstrators and masked bands of ruling party loyalists.

This week's violence marks a significant ramp up of student-led protests and indicates the increasing strain on Aleksandar Vucic's populist government, in power for 13 years.

UEFA has fined Partizan Belgrade more than $100,000 and ordered part of the Serbian club’s stadium closed at one European game for fans’ racist and political statements. Fans displayed a

Protests erupted across Serbia, targeting the ruling Serbian Progressive Party amid allegations of corruption. Offices were destroyed in Novi Sad, and clashes occurred with police and supporters of President Aleksandar Vucic in Belgrade.