BELGRADE, Serbia — On Friday, demonstrators in Serbia observed a moment of silence lasting 15 minutes to honor the victims of a roof collapse that occurred four weeks ago in a northern city. The aim was to maintain pressure on the ruling authorities to hold accountable those responsible for the incident.

For the third consecutive week, traffic was disrupted at various locations across several cities and towns, including in Novi Sad, where a concrete outer roof at the main railway station unexpectedly collapsed on November 1. The disaster resulted in the deaths of 14 individuals initially, with one more succumbing to injuries later in the hospital.

The railway station had undergone renovations twice in recent years, leading many in Serbia to suspect that widespread corruption and lack of transparency during the reconstruction process contributed to the structural failure. Since the roof collapse, daily protests demanding justice have unfolded, with another demonstration scheduled for Saturday in Novi Sad to commemorate one month since the tragedy.

While the prosecution has reported the detention of 13 people in connection with the incident, a Serbian court recently released former construction minister Goran Vesic from custody, raising doubts about the integrity of the ongoing investigation. This skepticism is fueled by concerns that populist leaders influence both the police and the judiciary.

President Aleksandar Vucic has characterized the protesters as bullies who exploited the tragedy for political purposes. Tensions have flared both in parliament and during some recent demonstrations where pro-government supporters attempted to dismantle opposition-led blockades.

On Friday, minor confrontations were noted during the silent protest in Belgrade. Meanwhile, in Novi Sad, residents displayed a lengthy black banner in memory of the victims, while others at protests in different cities held white roses or posters featuring a red handprint, indicating that the government has “blood on their hands.”

Opposition parties have consistently called for the resignation of the Prime Minister and his administration, along with demands for full access to documentation concerning the train station and other infrastructure initiatives involving Chinese state companies.

The Novi Sad railway station, built in 1964, was part of a larger project alongside China and Hungary aimed at establishing a high-speed rail connection between Belgrade and Budapest.