Protesters Demand Accountability in Serbia Following Deadly Train Station Roof Collapse
Tens of thousands of demonstrators gathered in Belgrade on Sunday, demanding government accountability for the tragic collapse of a train station roof in November that claimed 15 lives. The protest, organized by student groups, aimed to highlight systemic corruption within the Serbian government.
The incident, which occurred in the northern city of Novi Sad, has sparked nationwide outrage, intensifying scrutiny of how public infrastructure projects are awarded and supervised. The collapse of the recently restored roof has raised serious concerns about the transparency of tender processes and the adequacy of oversight during project implementation.
The demonstration commenced with 15 minutes of silence in honor of the victims, followed by a cacophony of whistles and vuvuzelas as attendees expressed their anger and frustration. The Serbian Ministry of the Interior estimated the crowd at approximately 29,000 participants. Citizens from across the country traveled to the capital in solidarity with the student-led initiative. Simultaneously, similar protests took place in the southern city of Niš, further underscoring the widespread demand for reform and accountability.
This growing wave of public dissent reflects mounting pressure on the government to address allegations of corruption and ensure the safety and integrity of public infrastructure moving forward.
