Thousands rally in Belgrade demanding change 11 months after station disaster

Thousands of protesters marched through Belgrade on Wednesday night, nearly a year after a deadly station collapse sparked a nationwide anti-government movement.

The crowd crossed the Gazela Bridge, briefly blocking traffic in one direction, as they marked 11 months since 16 people were killed in a roof collapse at a Novi Sad railway station. Demonstrators held a 16-minute silence in memory of the victims, and there were no reports of violence or clashes with police.

Protesters accuse President Aleksandar Vucic’s government of corruption and negligence, blaming it for the disaster. They have also called for early elections, denouncing alleged links between the ruling SNS party and organised crime, as well as violence against political opponents and restrictions on media freedom, accusations the government denies.

Participants said the protests aimed to end what they described as a “simulation of democracy” and push for a real separation of powers. “It is finally time to separate the executive, legislative, judicial and prosecutorial branches of power,” protester Gordana Savic-Bogosavljevic said.

Student groups emphasised the importance of peaceful action and urged that any future elections be free and fair. “The solution is to call elections and not to steal them,” said student Dejan Petric.

Art professor Matija Petrovic praised the younger generation for their persistence. “If there is anything positive in these difficult times, it is this young generation that believes in something and fights for it,” he said.

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