Voices of Protest
Demonstrators carried banners calling for justice, featuring slogans such as “Demands have not been met” and “We will pass this exam as well. In Novi Sad, more than 1,000 people gathered in the city center, where they held a 15-minute memorial service for the victims. They shouted, “They attacked students,” referring to two recent attacks on student protesters in Belgrade.
In these incidents, two female students were injured when cars drove into groups of demonstrators. Prosecutors have since charged the drivers with attempted murder.
Nationwide Actions
The protests on January 25 followed a general strike observed by tens of thousands of citizens. On this day, many chose not to work or make purchases, expressing their discontent with the government’s response to the canopy collapse.
The canopy collapse occurred after the railway station underwent renovations twice in recent years, managed by a Chinese-led consortium of four companies. Serbian Railways maintained that the renovation did not include the concrete overhang. However, experts have disputed this claim, with many attributing the tragedy to corruption and inadequate construction oversight.
Calls for Accountability
Since the canopy collapse, protests have regularly occurred as demonstrators demand more robust government action. Last month, authorities announced an indictment naming the former transport minister, the former director of Serbian Railways, and 11 others. While ten of the defendants are currently in custody, former minister Goran Vesic remains at large, and two others are under house arrest.
For the past two months, students have maintained lockdowns in over 60 state universities. Their primary demand is the release of complete documentation regarding the railway station reconstruction projects. Students argue that authorities have only partially fulfilled their requirements, even though they claim to have met all demands.
Academics support the students’ stance, stating that the documentation published by the Serbian government and the prosecutor-general’s office in Novi Sad is incomplete. They insist that work suspension at the faculties will continue until further notice.
Presidential Response
On January 25, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic urged for full transparency regarding the canopy collapse. He called on the government, investors, contractors, and the prosecutor’s office to release all requested documents. Vucic said in a video message on Instagram, “I am calling on the government, the investor, the contractor, and the prosecutor’s office to submit absolutely everything that has been requested.”
Additionally, the president ordered police to secure protest areas to prevent further incidents, such as car-rammings. He announced police will protect planned protests on January 27, expected to involve a day-long blockade of a major traffic intersection in Belgrade.
Conclusion
The protests across Serbia reflect a growing demand for accountability in the wake of the deadly canopy collapse. Students and citizens alike continue to push for justice and transparency, seeking to ensure that such tragedies do not happen again. As the situation develops, we will see how the government responds to these persistent calls for action.
