A two-week wave of protests continues in Serbia after a canopy collapse at the recently renovated Novi Sad train station killed 14 people, raising questions about government accountability and corruption. In the aftermath, only construction minister Goran Vesić reluctantly stepped down, while the rest of President Aleksandar Vučić’s administration deflected criticism.
Vesić’s symbolic resignation has done nothing to curb public anger. On November 5, approximately 20,000 people gathered in Novi Sad in one of the city’s largest protests ever, demanding justice for everyone affected by the collapse. Protesters were met by a large police presence, who proceeded to intimidate and arrest demonstrators as they engaged in direct actions near the Serbian Progressive Party (Srpska napredna stranka, SNS) headquarters and city hall. Protesters threw red paint and manure in these locations to symbolize the lives lost under SNS policies, which they allege have continuously prioritized private and corporate interests over the people’s well-being.
Among those arrested was Ivan Bjelić from the activist group SviĆe, who is also involved in protests against the planned Rio Tinto lithium mining project in Jadar. In August this year, Bjelić was among those arrested as the government attempted to subdue the campaign against the multinational company. In the case of the Novi Sad protests, police announced that the activist would be held for 30 days, facing charges of breaking a window and planting explosive devices in city hall, despite evidence from other protesters indicating he was nowhere near the scene. If convicted on the escalated charges that have been brought against him, Bjelić could face a prison sentence of up to 12 years.
Read more: Serbians protest Rio Tinto’s lithium mining project
A smaller mobilization, counting approximately 10,000 people, later took place in the capital, Belgrade, where opposition parties rallied people under the slogan “Corruption kills!” However, left groups and media outlets have criticized the mainstream opposition’s approach, arguing that it misses the broader opportunity to hold Vučić and his administration fully accountable. They insist that only grassroots, people-driven protests that capture the anger and frustration accumulated over recent years can bring real change.
The crackdown on protests in Novi Sad demonstrates the challenges such a movement is likely to face, yet activists see it as a sign of potential change. In a statement, SviĆe remarked, “The regime is collapsing from within; it panics and attempts to incite conflicts among citizens to divert attention from the real issue—the killing of people through the direct fault and responsibility of the people of the system.”
Refusing to let this shift in focus happen, the people of Novi Sad held new actions over the weekend of November 16-17. They intend to block access to the train station where the canopy collapsed, and halt daily activities for 14 minutes in memory of the 14 lives lost on Friday, November 15.
