Protesters Demand Justice for Novi Sad Tragedy

In Serbia, thousands gathered to protest against government negligence following the deadly collapse of a railway station in Novi Sad, which killed 14 people. The demonstrators seek accountability and transparency, demanding the resignations of key officials and the release of secret contracts related to the station's renovation.

Thousands of protesters took to the streets on Monday outside the Serbian government building, braving the rain and ignoring a state holiday, to demand arrests linked to a fatal railway station accident in Novi Sad. The tragic incident resulted in 14 deaths, with opposition supporters accusing the authorities of negligence and corruption.

The disaster occurred on November 1st, when the roofing at the station's entrance collapsed, also leaving three severely injured. Speaking to the assembled crowd, lawyer Jovan Rajic argued that these weren't mere accidents, but casualties of systemic issues like corruption and unpublished contracts. Calls for responsibility and justice resonated among the demonstrators.

Protesters initially planned to deliver resignation demands for Prime Minister Milos Vucevic and Novi Sad Mayor Milan Djuric directly to President Aleksandar Vucic. However, police barriers forced them to redirect their petitions to parliament. In the absence of adequate governmental response, opposition MPs vowed to pursue a no-confidence vote.

(With inputs from agencies.)