Thousands of predominantly young Serbians commenced a two-day march from Belgrade on Thursday, converging in the northern city of Novi Sad to commemorate the anniversary of a catastrophic train station disaster. The incident, which occurred on November 1, involved the collapse of a concrete canopy at Novi Sad’s central train station, claiming 16 lives. The tragedy has galvanized a youth-led protest movement, targeting President Aleksandar Vucic’s administration, which protesters accuse of corruption and negligence in the station’s renovation. Demonstrators are demanding accountability for the disaster and advocating for early parliamentary elections to oust Vucic’s populist government. The march, spanning 90 kilometers (58 miles), was spearheaded by flag-waving university students, with Saturday’s rally expected to draw tens of thousands, intensifying pressure on the president. Over the past two weeks, various student groups have trekked across Serbia, uniting in Novi Sad for the anniversary. Belgrade residents showed solidarity, honking car horns, waving, and blowing whistles as protesters passed. Participants like Mihajlo Jovanovic and Ana Marija Seslija expressed hope for change and determination to continue their struggle. Authorities have detained numerous protesters in recent months, with allegations of police brutality. While 13 individuals have been charged in connection with the disaster, no trial date has been set, raising doubts about accountability. Vucic has dismissed the protesters as Western-backed “terrorists,” exacerbating political tensions. Serbia’s EU accession process remains stalled amid concerns over democratic freedoms and Vucic’s ties with Russia and China.
Serbia youth lead thousands on march for weekend rally marking deadly canopy collapse last year
