Students block Belgrade highway in protest

Thousands of university students blocked a major highway in Belgrade in protest against President Aleksandar Vucic's government, demanding accountability for a deadly railway station disaster that occurred in November. The protest centered on the collapse of a concrete canopy at Novi Sad station, which killed 15 people and injured three others.

The students, who have been protesting since the incident, gathered outside Belgrade's central courthouse before moving to block a key motorway intersection and bridge over the Sava river for an hour. They called for the release of renovation-related documents and prosecution of those responsible for the disaster.

Opposition groups attribute the accident to corruption and nepotism in construction work, which involved Chinese state companies. While prosecutors have charged 13 individuals, including a government minister and state officials, many citizens remain skeptical about the investigation's independence under the current administration.

Daily silent protests have been held at 11:52 AM, marking the exact time of the collapse. The university protests intensified following an attack on drama students during one such demonstration, leading to campus occupations and suspended classes across Serbia.

President Vucic initially accused protesters of receiving foreign funding, and pro-government media outlets published personal information about student participants while claiming they worked for foreign intelligence services. The president later shifted his approach, offering student loans and claiming their demands had been met.

The protests represent a significant challenge to Vucic's leadership, which has faced criticism for declining democratic freedoms despite formal support for EU membership. The movement has spread beyond Belgrade, with hundreds participating in silent protests across various locations in Serbia.