About 1 in 20 Serbians Join Protest Against Government

At least 325,000 people protested in Belgrade, seeking justice for the Novi Sad disaster from the government of Serbia.

This attendance figure came from an independent monitor called Public Meeting Archive. The government downplayed the demonstration, saying only 170,000 attended. The country has a population of about 6.6 million. The independent crowd count indicates 1 in every 20 Serbians attended the protest.

The spark was the November 2024 collapse of a concrete and glass canopy at Novi Sad railway station which killed 15 people. Students soon began protesting against government corruption they blame for the defective construction that led to that tragedy. Farmers, taxi drivers and lawyers are among the people who have joined them. They demand transparency and accountability for the collapse. Although 16 people have been indicted, no one has gone to trial.

Today growing anger at the government and President Aleksandar Vucic, an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, was on display. The government tried to defend itself with a ring of tractors to keep demonstrators at bay. Motorbike riders confronted the tractors. Military veterans promised citizen’s arrest of anybody attacking the students.

Serbian media reported 22 arrests and 56 people injured.

In January, Prime Minister Milos Vucevic submitted his resignation. He is still in office awaiting acceptance by the National Assembly. President Vucic refuses to stand aside.

The students are not demanding new elections. They are only demanding exposure of the truth behind the Novi Sad collapse and accountability for people responsible.

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