Serbian students protest deadly station collapse, telling chief prosecutor to ‘fight for right and justice’ – Firstpost

Public outrage has been fueled by allegations of corruption and substandard work on infrastructure projects, many of which involve Chinese state-owned enterprises.

read more

Hundreds of university students gathered in the Serbian capital on Wednesday (December 25) to demand responsibility for the collapse of a train station roof that killed 15 people in the northern city of Novi Sad last month.

The students blocked a major intersection in Belgrade for 15 minutes before marching to the Supreme Court, where they symbolically left letters calling on chief prosecutor Zagorka Dolovac to take action.

“Students expect you to fight for law and justice, without political abuse or corruption,” read one of the messages. Protesters chanted “Comply with the demands” while waving banners with red handprints, symbolizing their claim that authorities have “blood on their hands.”

Nationwide protests over tragedy

The November 1 incident, which occurred after a concrete canopy at Novi Sad train station collapsed following renovation work, has sparked seven weeks of protests across the country. Fourteen people, aged from 6 to 74, died at the scene and a fifteenth victim succumbed to injuries weeks later.

Public outrage has been fueled by allegations of corruption and substandard work on infrastructure projects, many of which involve Chinese state-owned enterprises. Prosecutors have arrested 13 people in connection with the collapse, including a minister whose subsequent release has raised questions about the transparency of the investigation.

Students lead the charge

Students have blocked almost all faculties of state universities for over a month and refused to withdraw, despite government promises of subsidies and housing loans for young people. Their protests have received widespread support from professors, farmers, actors and others.

Last Sunday’s student-led demonstration in Belgrade was one of the largest in recent years. Police estimated the number of attendees at 29,000, but an NGO specializing in crowd counting claimed the number was three times higher.

Authorities respond to pressure

Dolovac’s office responded on Wednesday, inviting a student delegation to a meeting. However, the government’s response has largely focused on defusing the unrest through economic incentives, with President Aleksandar Vucic promoting “favorable” loans for young people to buy apartments.

Vucic, who has been accused of curbing democratic freedoms as he formally pursues Serbia’s European Union membership, is facing mounting criticism amid the unrest.

Students say their demands go beyond financial aid and call for accountability and system reforms to prevent further tragedies. “This is not just about Novi Sad,” said one protester. “It’s about fighting corruption and building a better and more secure Serbia.”

With input from authorities