The rally in central Belgrade was part of a wave of protests triggered by the collapse of a train station canopy in Novi Sad in November 2024. The accident killed 16 people. The protest movement is led by students who occupied universities for months and has since gained broad public support.
Demonstrators hold the government of Aleksandar Vučić responsible for the disaster, accusing it of negligence and corruption. A speaker at the rally told the independent news agency Beta: “They are our chance to finally fulfill our promise – an honest government, freedom, and a dignified life.” The next regular parliamentary election would not be due until the end of 2027.
To curb attendance at the demonstration, the government halted all rail traffic across the country. On the sidelines of the event, clashes broke out between masked individuals and police. Interior Minister Ivica Dačić said 23 people had been arrested and several police officers injured.
Source: Tagesschau
