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<p data-start="201" data-end="578"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">A year after a deadly accident shook Serbia, tens of thousands of people have gathered in the northern city of Novi Sad to commemorate the 16 victims of the railway station canopy collapse. The tragedy, which occurred on November 1, 2024, at the newly renovated station, has since become a powerful symbol of widespread corruption and government mismanagement.</span></p>
<p data-start="580" data-end="849"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">The student-led movement that emerged in the wake of the disaster continues to shape Serbia&rsquo;s political landscape. Initially focused on demanding a transparent investigation, the protests have since expanded into a broader call for accountability and early elections.<br></span></p>
<p data-start="851" data-end="1301"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Organizers called Saturday&rsquo;s event &ldquo;the largest commemorative gathering,&rdquo; with participants arriving in Novi Sad by car, bicycle, and even on foot. Thousands marched from Belgrade, covering nearly 100 kilometers (62 miles), while others traveled from distant cities such as Novi Pazar, 340 kilometers (210 miles) away. Their 16-day journey ended with a stirring welcome, as Novi Sad residents greeted them with flags, whistles, and visible emotion.</span></p>
<p data-start="1303" data-end="1607"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Among those present was <strong data-start="1327" data-end="1342">Dijana Hrka</strong>, whose 27-year-old son was among the victims. &ldquo;What I want to know is who killed my child so I can have a little peace, so that I don&rsquo;t keep going through hell,&rdquo; Hrka said. &ldquo;I am looking for justice. I want no other mother to go through what I am going through.&rdquo;</span></p>
<p data-start="1609" data-end="2038"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">The protests over the station&rsquo;s collapse have already led to major political fallout, including the resignation of the prime minister and the fall of his government. However, President <strong data-start="1794" data-end="1814">Aleksandar Vucic</strong> has held onto power, dismissing the demonstrators as &ldquo;foreign-funded coup plotters.&rdquo; His ruling SNS party has even promoted conspiracy theories suggesting that the collapse could have been an orchestrated act of sabotage.</span></p>
<p data-start="2040" data-end="2340"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">In a surprising turn, Vucic appeared on national television on Friday to offer a rare apology. &ldquo;This applies both to students and to protesters, as well as to others with whom I disagreed. I apologise for that,&rdquo; he said, adding that he regretted some of his earlier remarks and called for dialogue.</span></p>
<p data-start="2342" data-end="2805"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Saturday&rsquo;s commemorative rally began at 11:52am (10:52 GMT) the exact time the accident occurred last year, with 16 minutes of silence observed in honor of the victims. Thirteen people, including former construction minister&nbsp;<strong data-start="2566" data-end="2581">Goran Vesic</strong>, have been charged in connection with the collapse. Meanwhile, a separate anticorruption investigation is underway, supported by the European Union, to examine possible misuse of EU funds tied to the station&rsquo;s renovation.</span></p>
<p data-start="2807" data-end="3207"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">The Serbian government has declared a national day of mourning, and <strong data-start="2875" data-end="2898">Patriarch Porfirije</strong>, head of the Serbian Orthodox Church, is scheduled to hold a mass for the victims at Belgrade&rsquo;s Saint Sava Church. The <strong data-start="3018" data-end="3045">EU delegation in Serbia</strong> released a statement urging restraint: &ldquo;On this sad anniversary, we appeal to everyone &hellip; to act with restraint, to de-escalate tensions and to avoid violence.&rdquo;</span></p>
<p data-start="3209" data-end="3639"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Political analyst <strong data-start="3227" data-end="3247">Aleksandar Popov</strong> described corruption in Serbia as &ldquo;sky high,&rdquo; adding that the issue reaches deep into the country&rsquo;s institutions. &ldquo;We&rsquo;re not talking about tens of millions of euros, but hundreds of millions of euros spun through large infrastructure projects, perhaps billions of euros,&rdquo; Popov explained. &ldquo;This government and the president have captured all key institutions of state, like the judiciary.&rdquo;</span></p>
<p data-start="3641" data-end="3884"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Although the demonstrations have largely remained peaceful, tensions flared in mid-August when clashes broke out between protesters and police. Many participants accused government loyalists of using heavy-handed tactics to suppress dissent.</span></p>
<p data-start="3886" data-end="4091" data-is-last-node="" data-is-only-node=""><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">As Serbia marks a somber anniversary, the calls for justice, transparency, and reform continue to grow louder, with protesters vowing to keep up their struggle until those responsible are held accountable.</span></p>
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Thousands gather in Novi Sad to honor victims and demand justice over corruption

Serbia Marks Tragedy With Mass Protests

Thousands gather in Novi Sad to honor victims and demand justice over corruption

November 1, 2025 | 21:05 IST