NOVI SAD, Serbia — On Saturday, students in Serbia organized a large-scale protest that led to the blockage of bridges over the River Danube in Novi Sad, drawing tens of thousands of participants who voiced their frustrations with the current government and demanded change.
This demonstration coincided with the three-month anniversary of a tragic incident where a massive concrete canopy fell at the main railway station in Novi Sad, resulting in the loss of 15 lives. The disaster, which occurred on November 1, ignited a widespread anti-corruption movement and has been a catalyst for ongoing student-led protests across the country.
Many Serbians attribute the station’s collapse to corruption linked to a significant infrastructure project involving Chinese state-owned firms. Critics argue that corruption resulted in inadequate construction practices, lack of oversight, and violations of safety standards during the renovation of the train station. This incident has come to represent broader frustrations regarding the rule of law in Serbia.
The protest, titled “Three Months — Three Bridges,” saw participants flood both the bridges and nearby streets, while additional crowds gathered along the riverbank. Student volunteers took on the role of security, managing the flow of individuals on the bridges to ensure safety as the protest unfolded. “After a long time, we can feel positive energy in the air, on the streets, among people,” expressed local resident Slavica Nikolic.
She continued, “When I talk to people, it feels like hope has awakened. We remember well some uglier times. This is finally some sort of new hope, that something good is going to happen in this country.” Traffic jams ensued on roads leading to Novi Sad as individuals traveled from Belgrade and other parts of Serbia to participate in the rally.
Farmers also joined the demonstration, driving tractors through the streets amid three separate columns of student protesters heading towards the blocked bridges, all while receiving cheers and support from residents. Many attendees waved Serbian flags and displayed banners that read “Three months” and “We are defending freedom.”
University students have emerged as key figures in the protests, which have become the most significant challenge to the leadership of President Aleksandar Vucic in years. In response, Vucic has accused the demonstrators, including students, of being manipulated by foreign intelligence agencies aiming to destabilize his administration. Simultaneously, he has offered to engage in dialogue while insinuating that his supporters’ patience could wane.
“Today we offer talks and today we offer dialogue,” Vucic stated during the protest. “The second someone thinks that they will use violence to seize power, the state will act like a state, just like everywhere else in the world.” Ongoing protests have already led to the resignation of Prime Minister Milos Vucevic earlier in the week, as well as several concessions from the ruling government amid rising public discontent.
On Friday evening, thousands rallied to welcome Belgrade students who had made a two-day trek to join the bridge protests. Demonstrations have also been held daily in other cities across Serbia and have been marked by sporadic violent incidents, including one in Belgrade where a driver injured two women during a protest.
As the students completed their 80-kilometer journey to Novi Sad, they were met with enthusiasm from locals who offered food and drinks, honked their horns, and welcomed them into their homes. Furthermore, additional groups of cyclists and motorcyclists joined the march, as taxi drivers from Belgrade volunteered to provide rides back home for the protesters on Sunday.
