Belgrade protest demands justice for station collapse

A large protest took place in Belgrade as thousands gathered in front of the Serbian government building, demanding accountability for the deadly collapse of a railway station canopy in Novi Sad that killed 14 people and injured three on November 1.

The demonstration, organized under the slogan "Corruption Kills," proceeded despite rain and a state holiday. Protesters marched through Belgrade, calling for the resignations of Prime Minister Milos Vucevic and Novi Sad Mayor Milan Djuric. They also demanded the release of all contracts related to the station's reconstruction, which are currently classified as confidential, and called for extraordinary monitoring of infrastructure projects from the past decade.

Lawyer Jovan Rajic addressed the crowd, highlighting that no arrests had been made ten days after the tragedy. Ana Ferik Ivanovic, president of the Association of Architects of Novi Sad, urged resistance against pressure from government, investors, and businesses.

The protest follows earlier demonstrations in Novi Sad, including last Tuesday's rally that turned violent when some protesters damaged the City Hall and ruling party offices. Seven people remain in custody from that incident, while three activists arrested Friday for blocking a bridge were released.

Construction Minister Goran Vesic resigned over the incident but denied responsibility and expressed confidence in his eventual exoneration. The station, part of a Chinese-led infrastructure upgrade, was renovated and unveiled during the 2022 election campaign, with authorities declaring it rebuilt "according to European standards" in July 2023.

When protesters attempted to deliver their demands to President Aleksandar Vucic, they found the presidential palace locked and cordoned off by police. Opposition MPs threatened a no-confidence vote in parliament if their demands aren't met.