Thousands of protesters gathered in Belgrade on Sunday, demanding accountability for the collapse of the roof at the Novi Sad railway station on November 1st, which resulted in the deaths of 15 people and injuries to 2 others
The protest, organized by student and farmer unions, saw farmers, artists, and citizens filling Slavija Square to express their solidarity.
The placards seen at the protest included messages such as "Your hands are stained with blood" and "Is your conscience at ease?" One placard read, "Students are the voice of reason."
Government Response and Protesters' Skepticism
Under the increasing pressure of the protests, President Aleksandar Vučić revoked the confidentiality of documents related to the construction and renovation of the railway station. However, students have called these documents "incomplete," stating that they do not provide full information about the incident.
The student movement is also demanding the release of those detained during previous protests. As a result of ongoing demonstrations, classes at many universities in Serbia have been suspended for weeks, with students holding sit-ins at faculty buildings. Academic staff, opposition politicians, and prominent artists have shown support for the students' protests, reinforcing calls for transparency and reforms.
Despite this, Vučić has urged students to return to classes, claiming their demands have been met.
Accountability Under Question
The Novi Sad tragedy has sparked widespread criticism of the government's oversight and management. Allegations of negligence during the renovation works carried out in 2021 have raised serious concerns.
The prosecution has arrested 11 individuals in connection with the incident, including former Minister of Construction Goran Vesić. Among those detained are Jelena Tanasković, Director of Serbian Railway Infrastructure, former director Nebojša Šurlan, and the Minister of Railway Transport, Anita Dimoski. Vesić resigned on November 5th amid public outrage, while Foreign Trade Minister Tomislav Momirović also stepped down after the scandal. Momirović had served as Minister of Construction, Transport, and Infrastructure in Ana Brnabić’s government from 2020 to 2022.
More than 40 individuals have been questioned in connection with the incident. Opposition parties criticize the government’s handling of the case, claiming that the tragedy stemmed from systematic negligence.
A Nationwide Movement of Concern
The protests have become a unifying issue across Serbia, with people from various walks of life joining the calls for accountability. The growing movement expresses deep dissatisfaction with the government’s lack of transparency and accountability.
As the protests continue, demands for justice for the victims of the Novi Sad tragedy and for significant reforms remain at the forefront of public discussions, marking a critical moment in Serbia’s political landscape.
Tensions between the United States and Iran remain high after a U.S. official said President Donald Trump was unhappy with a proposal from Tehran t...
British lawmakers on Tuesday voted against launching an inquiry into whether Prime Minister Keir Starmer misled Parliament over his decision to app...
Five million children across Sudan’s Darfur region are facing extreme deprivation, the United Nations childr...
Tensions along the Israel-Lebanon border are intensifying as Israeli strikes push deeper into the Bekaa Valley, fuelling fears of wider escalation ...
Former close aide to Keir Starmer admitted on Tuesday he was “wrong” to back the appointment of Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the U....
An investigation into a protest outside a Washington, D.C. hotel on 19 February, where President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev was staying, has revealed new details, placing the incident within a broader security context.
The European Union has added Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to its list of terrorist organisations, citing the group’s role in recent deadly crackdowns on protesters. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas called it a “decisive step” to ensure that “repression cannot go unanswered.”
Thousands of people took to the streets of Albania’s capital Tirana on Saturday in an anti-government protest sparked by the indictment of Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku over alleged corruption linked to major infrastructure projects.
Iranian authorities say 3,117 people, most of them civilians, were killed during weeks of unrest across the country, marking the first official death toll released since protests erupted late last year.
Disney+ has debuted Disney Animation’s Songs in Sign Language, a new collection of animated musical sequences reimagined in American Sign Language (ASL), released on 27 April to mark National Deaf History Month.
Market reaction to DeepSeek’s preview of its next-generation artificial intelligence model has been relatively subdued, in sharp contrast to the global shock triggered by its breakthrough releases last year.
President Donald Trump said on Sunday Iran could telephone if it wants to negotiate an end to their two-month war. Tehran said the U.S. should remove obstacles to a deal, including its blockade of Iran's ports. Meanwhile Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrives in St Petersburg for talks.
Adidas shares rose after Kenya’s Sebastian Sawe delivered a historic performance at the London Marathon on Sunday (26 April), becoming the first athlete to run an official marathon in under two hours.
Tensions between the United States and Iran remain high after a U.S. official said President Donald Trump was unhappy with a proposal from Tehran that does not deal with its nuclear programme. Washington is insisting that any talks must address Iran’s nuclear activities.
British lawmakers on Tuesday voted against launching an inquiry into whether Prime Minister Keir Starmer misled Parliament over his decision to appoint Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the U.S.
Five million children across Sudan’s Darfur region are facing extreme deprivation, the United Nations children’s agency said on Tuesday, issuing an emergency warning as the civil war in the country enters its fourth year.
Former close aide to Keir Starmer admitted on Tuesday he was “wrong” to back the appointment of Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the U.S., amid mounting political pressure.
Russia has significantly expanded its blacklist of European Union officials and figures banned from entering the country, in retaliation for Brussels’ newly approved 20th sanctions package against Moscow.
China is moving to make it easier and cheaper for people to have children, with lawmakers reviewing plans to expand maternity insurance coverage nationwide.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment