Protests erupt in Belgrade over deadly train station collapse
Tens of thousands of people protested on Sunday in downtown Belgrade against President Aleksandar Vučić and the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), holding them responsible for the roof collapse at a train station last month, which resulted in 15 deaths, according to Reuters.
Opposition leaders and the public have repeatedly protested, accusing the government of poor-quality construction driven by corruption and nepotism.
The ruling coalition has rejected these accusations, with President Vučić stating that those responsible should be held accountable.
On Sunday evening, protesters lit their mobile phone flashlights and stood in silence for 15 minutes to honor the victims.
"We came here to say stop everything that's been happening since 2012, when Vučić's party came to power," said one protester.
"Vučić, thief!" "You have blood on your hands!" "We want to see the end of corruption and nepotism," shouted the protesters.
Students from Belgrade, Kragujevac, and Niš State Universities have been protesting for weeks, demanding the release of all relevant documents related to the station's renovation and the prosecution of officials responsible for the disaster. Every day, they block traffic in front of their universities for 15 minutes to honor the 15 victims.
The concrete roof of the recently renovated Novi Sad Station collapsed on November 1, killing 14 people and injuring three. One of the injured later passed away. Renovations at the Novi Sad Station were carried out in 2021 and 2022. Additional minor works continued until July of this year, when the Ministry of Transport stated that a total of 16 million euros had been invested in the renovation. Transport Minister Goran Vesić stated that the investigation, initiated by the authorities in Novi Sad, involves the State Traffic Institute, the state railway company, and the Chinese consortium responsible for the renovation.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
🇷🇸 Massive Protests Erupt in Belgrade, Serbia
— DD Geopolitics (@DD_Geopolitics) December 22, 2024
Belgrade is witnessing huge student-led demonstrations as over 100,000 people take to the streets demanding justice after the tragic collapse of part of the Novi Sad railway station, which claimed 15 lives.
The disaster occurred on… pic.twitter.com/BdQfgZAvuX
Huge anti-corruption protest in Belgrade 🇷🇸 tens of thousands are calling on Serbia’s president Vucic to resign:
— Jakub Bielamowicz (@KubaBielamowicz) December 22, 2024
VUČIĆU ODLAZI!pic.twitter.com/tb9ZtDNzOJ