Thousands of Serbians gathered in Belgrade on Sunday to protest against corruption and demand justice for the victims of a train station roof collapse that killed 15 people. The tragedy, which occurred on November 1 in the northern city of Novi Sad, has sparked two months of demonstrations across the country.
The roof collapse came after recent restoration work at the station, raising questions about the oversight and quality of construction projects. Protesters, including students who have blocked universities in solidarity, accuse authorities of corruption and negligence.
From 4:00 pm (1500 GMT), demonstrators flooded central Belgrade, blowing whistles and wearing badges depicting a bloody hand — a symbol of the protest movement.
“We’re here to demand some changes, to demand justice,” said 34-year-old protester Milena Cicovic. “The aim is to prevent this country from going further down the road of corruption.”
More than a dozen individuals, including former Transport Minister Goran Vesic, have been charged in connection with the incident. Vesic resigned days after the tragedy.
Despite the arrests, protesters are demanding greater transparency in the investigation and a thorough review of the restoration contracts awarded to Chinese, French, and Hungarian companies.
The protests reflect growing public frustration in Serbia, a nation of 6.8 million people, over corruption and a perceived lack of accountability in government and business dealings. Demonstrators have vowed to continue their efforts until justice is served and meaningful reforms are implemented.
