 "Demonstrators observing 15 minutes of silence in the memory of the victims of the fatal November 2024 Novi Sad railway station roof collapse, Kragujevac, Serbia. Reuters")
On Saturday, tens of thousands of students marched into the central Serbian city of Kragujevac, seeking justice following a horrific train catastrophe, in one of the largest demonstrations against the government.
In the three months since 15 people were murdered when a roof collapsed at a newly refurbished train station in Novi Sad, Serbia’s second-largest city, public protests have turned into the most serious danger yet to President Aleksandar Vucic’s decade-long hold on power.
The students, who are joined by teachers, farmers, and other workers, have garnered popular sympathy since many Serbians blame the tragedy on government corruption.
On Saturday, students braved near-freezing temperatures to travel to Kragujevac from across Serbia, by bus and even on foot from the capital Belgrade, some 140 kilometres (87 miles) away, beating drums, blowing whistles and waving the country’s flag. Locals greeted them with cheers.
The protesters planned to blockade one of the city’s main boulevards for 15 hours and 15 minutes in a symbolic tribute to the 15 victims. They also held 15 minutes of silence.
“We are here to fight for a better tomorrow, against corruption,” said 20-year-old Jovan, who drove from Belgrade with friends.
By noon, all roads leading to Kragujevac were jammed with traffic. As the numbers swelled, locals brought the protesters homemade pies and hot tea.
Verica, a 52-year-old professor from the city, joined the protest with her teenage daughter.
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Vucic’s government has said it will launch an anti-corruption campaign, and has also denied allegations of corruption.
Vucic on Saturday assembled supporters from the Republika Srpska in neighbouring Bosnia, as well as from Serbia, at a rally in the town of Sremska Mitrovica, in the country’s northwest.
“Their goal is not to topple Vucic, but to bring down Serbia,” Vucic said of the protesters, adding that they were backed by unspecified Western countries.
Student demands
Prime Minister Milos Vucevic and two other ministers have resigned over the protests and prosecutors have charged 13 people in connection with the roof collapse.
Daily protests, however, have continued and students have taken over university buildings and blocked highways and squares.
“We want to be able to continue our studies but only when our demands are met,” said Djordje Vujovic, 22, a mechanical engineering student.
The students are demanding that authorities publish documents relating to the station roof collapse, justice for those responsible, the dismissal of charges against protesting students, and an increased budget for higher education.
Ivan and Ivana, 23-year-old mathematics students, were among a group of around 400 people who had walked for four days to reach Kragujevac from Belgrade.
“We wanted to show the people living in the country that we support them,” Ivan said. “We do not think only about the people in Belgrade.”