Aleksandar Vucic, Serbia’s president, is facing unprecedented scrutiny for his role in the country’s political climate. Street protests against a “climate of violence” have erupted over recent mass shootings, prompting calls for the dismissal of senior law enforcement officials and withdrawing broadcasting licenses from pro-government television stations. The unrest coincides with Russia blaming the West for a recent uprising in the territory of Kosovo, a region that Serbia sees as part of its own country. However, the Serbian people’s support for Russia remains behind that of the US and EU. Despite Vucic’s history in politics and the powerful techniques adopted by leaders like him to survive, he now faces open wounds and the “sharks who are circling in the water”.