Novi Sad, Serbia — On a chilly Sunday night, Serbian students camped in tents and sleeping bags, orchestrating an overnight blockade of the Danube bridge in the northern city of Novi Sad. This demonstration is part of an expanding movement against corruption, with participants calling for significant reforms throughout the Balkan nation.
Farmers also joined the protest, parking their tractors near Most Slobode, or Freedom Bridge, to protect the students from potential clashes with supporters of President Aleksandar Vucic. Local residents showed their solidarity by providing tea, coffee, pancakes, pastries, and other cooked dishes for those participating in the blockade.
The student-led movement, sparked by the tragic collapse of a concrete canopy at the Novi Sad train station on November 1, which resulted in the deaths of 15 individuals, has brought widespread attention to corruption in the country. Many believe that the incident was due to inadequate oversight, substandard construction practices, and a neglect of safety regulations during the station’s renovation.
“The only way to end our protests is for all our demands to be met,” expressed student leader Lucija Maslakovic. The key demands include a comprehensive investigation, transparency by publishing records related to the station’s renovation, and the accountability of those responsible for the tragedy.
Daily protests across Serbia present a significant challenge to President Vucic. The burgeoning student movement has already resulted in the resignation of Prime Minister Milos Vucevic, a close associate of Vucic, earlier in the week.
While state-run media, known for its pro-government stance, largely overlooked the protests or presented misleading information portraying low turnout, an unexpected live broadcast by the state broadcaster RTS on Saturday showcased the immense crowd participating in the Novi Sad demonstrations.
In response to the coverage, the ruling Serbian Progressive Party quickly condemned what they deemed “scandalous coverage” of the protests, accusing state television of breaching the principles of fair and impartial journalism.
Students maintained their presence at one of the Novi Sad bridges throughout the night after having blocked all three bridges in the city. Tens of thousands took to the streets, continuing to apply pressure on the incumbent government.
“I fully support them; their organization and maturity are remarkable,” remarked Jelena Djordjevic, a university professor from Novi Sad. “They are just incredible.”
This student protest resonates deeply within a country beleaguered by corruption, where many citizens feel that government institutions—under strong populist influence—are failing to serve the public good. Numerous individuals attribute the canopy collapse to corrupt dealings associated with large-scale infrastructure projects in collaboration with Chinese state-owned enterprises.
To pass the time during the protest, students engaged in various activities, such as basketball, volleyball, listening to music, and playing chess or card games. They also took the initiative to clean up the area before more protests scheduled for the next day.
Prior to the blockade, hundreds of participants marched from Belgrade to Novi Sad over two days.
At 11:52 p.m. on Saturday, the protesters observed a poignant moment of silence lasting 15 minutes to honor those lost in the canopy collapse, which included two children among the victims.
