Tens of thousands protest in Serbia on anniversary of deadly roof collapse

Tens of thousands of demonstrators filled Serbia’s second-largest city on Saturday, marking one year since a railway station roof collapse killed 16 people, a tragedy that has fuelled public outrage over alleged corruption and lack of accountability.

Months of nationwide protests, driven by frustration over the failure to prosecute those deemed responsible, have shaken President Aleksandar Vučić’s long-standing hold on power and intensified calls for early elections.

Crowds converged on Novi Sad, the site of the disaster by car, bus, and on foot, with witnesses describing the city’s main boulevard packed with demonstrators. Many, particularly young people, observed 16 minutes of silence — one for each victim — at 11:52 a.m. (10:52 GMT), the exact moment the roof gave way during renovation works on 1 November 2024.

Protesters carried red heart-shaped placards bearing the victims’ names, held white flowers, and laid wreaths outside the railway station. One grieving father, dressed in black, stood silently for hours before his daughter’s name displayed on the station’s perimeter fence.

Unlike previous demonstrations that saw police use stun grenades and tear gas, Saturday’s protest remained peaceful.

“This is a major tragedy for the Serbian people. We cannot bring them back, but we can share the pain with their families and say that enough is enough,” said Sladjana Burmaz, a 51-year-old economist from Valjevo. “These people were not killed by accident — their deaths reflect a broken system and failed politics. Justice will only be done when those responsible are held to account.”

President Vučić posted a photo on Instagram showing himself lighting a candle at a memorial service in Belgrade, writing: “Let the names of those who died remind us that human life stands above any divisions.” The government declared Saturday a national day of mourning.

The protest movement, led by students, academics, and opposition figures, has accused Vučić’s populist administration of corruption, cronyism, poor governance, and restrictions on media freedom — charges the government rejects.

An independent commission of academics, judges, and technical experts told the European Parliament last week that its investigation uncovered high-level state corruption behind poor construction standards and the hiring of unqualified subcontractors.

Government officials have denied these claims, with Vučić and Parliament Speaker Ana Brnabić recently suggesting the collapse may have been an act of terrorism.

Several senior state officials have been charged with endangering public safety, but the court has yet to confirm the indictment — delaying the start of any trial.

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