1968 student demonstrations in Yugoslavia

Protests then also erupted in some of the capitals of the other Yugoslav republics – Sarajevo, Zagreb and Ljubljana – but they were smaller and shorter-lasting than those in Belgrade.

Students also protested against economic reforms, which led to high unemployment and workers leaving the country and finding work elsewhere.

They were violently dispersed by police units from Croatia using batons, tear gas and water canons.

Leading public figures, including film director Dušan Makavejev, stage actor Stevo Žigon, poet Desanka Maksimović, and numerous university professors, lent their support to the protests and in so doing found themselves running into problems in their careers because of their connections to the protests.

However, in the years that followed, he retaliated against the leaders of the protests by imprisoning students (Vladimir Mijanović, Milan Nikolić, Pavluško Imširović, Lazar Stojanović and others) and by firing critical professors from university positions and Communist party posts.