BELGRADE, Serbia — Armed with provisions such as food, water, and extra clothing, hundreds of university students from Serbia embarked on an 80-kilometer (about 50-mile) march on Thursday towards the northern city of Novi Sad. This undertaking is part of a broader protest movement ignited by the tragic collapse of an overhang in November that resulted in the deaths of 15 individuals.
The students, who left from Belgrade, plan to reach Novi Sad in two days, where they intend to stage a significant blockade of the city’s Danube bridges on Saturday. This blockade is timed to coincide with the three-month anniversary of the devastating concrete collapse that occurred on November 1 at the local railway station.
What began as protests against alleged corruption linked to construction contracts has escalated into a major challenge for Serbia’s populist leader, President Aleksandar Vucic, who is facing mounting scrutiny.
As they advance toward their destination, the students have received enthusiastic support from local residents. Many have cheered them on, honking car horns, and offering refreshments like fruit and pancakes as tokens of solidarity.
Marching for change, the students have been camped at their respective universities for a couple of months, organizing daily protests that have drawn tens of thousands of participants. These are among the largest demonstrations in several years within the Balkans. Tatjana Gogic, a biology student, stated, “This march is our way of showing support for our colleagues from Novi Sad. We want to emphasize our determination and that we will not cease our efforts until our demands are addressed.”
Vasilije Milanovic, a student enrolled in technical engineering at Belgrade University, echoed this sentiment, saying, “We are seeking justice and the freedom to express our thoughts.” He conveyed their collective resolve, adding, “We will see this through to the end.”
In recent weeks, ongoing protests have already led to the resignation of Serbia’s Prime Minister, Milos Vucevic, and have pushed the government to make concessions that they are not typically accustomed to granting. These demonstrations have revealed a broader discontent toward President Vucic’s increasingly authoritarian regime. The president’s Serbian Progressive Party has enforced strict control over state institutions and mainstream media while facing accusations of undermining democratic freedoms, despite its intentions of steering Serbia toward European Union membership.
There is widespread belief among the populace that the overhang collapse at the train station resulted from government corruption related to a significant infrastructure project involving Chinese state firms. Critics argue that improper oversight and negligence toward established safety protocols led to the tragedy.
Dusan Pavlovic, a graduate from Belgrade’s drama academy, emphasized the need for change, stating, “We can no longer tolerate the chaos and despotism that allows one individual to make all the decisions. This isn’t how the state should operate.”
The recent student protests were catalyzed by an incident on January 24, when pro-government individuals attacked drama students during a brief daily memorial for the victims of the collapse. The demand for accountability spread rapidly to universities across Serbia.
Aleksandar Baucal, a psychology professor at Belgrade’s Faculty of Philosophy, noted the students’ ability to inspire trust where previous protests have faltered. “No other group could have united such a diverse coalition of support,” he observed. Their calls for rule of law and accountability, as well as their empathy for the victims, have resonated strongly in a nation that is no stranger to crises.
Baucal remarked on the collective consciousness in Serbia, where the populace often feels that laws have been disregarded to their detriment, adding that “People have placed their trust in the students when they’ve lost faith in others.”
The president has altered his stance from accusing the students of foreign collusion to attempting to offer concessions. However, pro-government affiliates have aggressively targeted student demonstrations. Incidents of violence have included attacks on students, such as one female protester who was assaulted with baseball bats.
The student movement operates without formal leadership, and media access is restricted within their blockaded faculties. Decisions are made through “plenary sessions,” where student votes determine the course of action.
Their remarkable tenacity and unity have caught many off guard, particularly in a country where many young individuals have emigrated in search of better prospects. “They have demonstrated a genuine interest in the world around them,” Baucal stated. “They patiently waited for the older generations, who created these social issues, to resolve them so they wouldn’t have to. All they seek is the adherence to the laws that we ourselves have established.”
