A crowd of thousands gathered in the center of Belgrade on Sunday in protest against President Aleksandar Vucic and the ruling Serbian Progressive Party, who are held responsible for the tragedy at the Novi Sad train station. 15 people died when the station's roof collapsed in November.
The demonstration in the central Slavija Square was organized by students and farmers' trade unions. The protest began with a 15-minute silence in honor of the 15 victims of the accident in Novi Sad, followed by a long chant of “You have blood on your hands” – the slogan of the demonstrations organized since November 1 – the day of the disaster.
The demonstrators held banners with the inscriptions: “Solidarity of students and employees”, “High school graduates with students” and “Every action causes a reaction”.
Protest participants are demanding, among other things, the identification and prosecution of people who attacked demonstrators, the release of arrested activists and the discontinuation of proceedings against them.
Massive protests in Serbia after the tragedy in Novi Sad
Serbian students have been occupying over 50 faculties across the country for weeks. Farmers' trade unions have blocked several roads in recent days Serbiademand the resignation of Prime Minister Milos Vuczevic, as well as the resignation of the Minister of Agriculture, Aleksandar Martinovic, and the head of the parliamentary committee for agriculture.
READ MORE ABOUT THE TRAGEDY IN NOVI SAD >>>
After the accident in Novi Sad, numerous demonstrations have been organized in Serbia for almost two months, with protesters accusing the authorities of being responsible for the collapse of part of the station's roof. The facility was put into use after a general renovation just a few months before the tragedy.
Part of the roof of the railway station in Novi Sad in northern Serbia collapsedPAP/EPA/ANDREJ CUKIC
Opposition parties concluded that a transitional government that would prepare “free and fair elections” could be a way to overcome the political and social crisis.
Main photo source: PAP/EPA/ANDREJ CUKIC