BELGRADE, Serbia — On Friday, Serbian university students demonstrated outside the education ministry by leaving stacks of old textbooks, a powerful symbol of their ongoing protests seeking accountability in connection with a tragic incident that occurred nearly two months ago. A concrete canopy collapsed, claiming the lives of 15 individuals in the northern part of the country, prompting nearly daily demonstrations in response to negligence and corruption allegations.
At precisely 11:52 a.m., protests spilled into the streets with traffic blockades set up across various locations in Serbia. This timing marks the moment the concrete structure fell from the front of the railway station building in Novi Sad, where it struck those below. These demonstrations have taken place every Friday since the fatal incident on November 1, with each blockade lasting for 15 minutes in remembrance of the victims.
There is widespread sentiment in Serbia that the collapse can be attributed to entrenched corruption and poor construction practices tied to the renovation of the railway station in Novi Sad. This site has undergone two renovations in recent years, part of dubious mega projects involving Chinese state companies that have raised numerous questions among the public.
The ongoing protests not only voice anger over the accident but also reflect broader discontent with the leadership of President Aleksandar Vucic and his administration. Tens of thousands of participants turned out for a major rally in Belgrade on the previous Sunday, led prominently by university students.
In the wake of the tragedy, Serbian prosecutors have taken action, arresting 13 individuals, including a government minister. However, the minister’s subsequent release has raised doubts among the public regarding the integrity of the investigation into the incident.
Support for the striking university students has emerged from various sectors of society, signaling a challenge to Vucic’s firm grip on power. The protest movement has adopted a vivid emblem: a red handprint symbolizing that authorities bear the responsibility for the loss of life. This symbol has resonated across different groups, including actors and farmers, who have connected with the students’ cause.
In Belgrade, over 2,000 students marched towards the education ministry, with one speaker voicing the frustrations of the crowd, stating, “We are sick of being called political mercenaries and attacked in the streets.” Meanwhile, in Novi Sad, additional student gatherings criticized how the local state-operated RT Vojvodina has been covering the protests and the canopy collapse incident.
Populist leaders and pro-government media have labeled the protests as a “hybrid war” orchestrated against Vucic, purportedly initiated by foreign intelligence agencies. Despite Serbia’s formal pursuit of European Union membership, Vucic has faced criticism regarding his administration’s approach to democratic freedoms.
In a show of solidarity, university students from neighboring Bosnia, in both the capital Sarajevo and the northwestern city of Banja Luka, gathered on Friday to express support for their Serbian peers, as well as to highlight their own national issues.
