TASR informs about it according to a Reuters report.
Opposition activists took to the streets of Belgrade despite the rain. They expressed their frustration at the fact that no one was detained or investigated in connection with the mentioned tragedy, blaming the negligence and corruption of the authorities for the incident. They also demanded the resignation of Serbian Prime Minister Miloš Vučević.
The disaster in Novi Sad occurred on November 1 when part of the roof at the entrance to the railway station suddenly collapsed, killing 14 people, including children, and seriously injuring three others. The aforementioned station was reconstructed in 2021 and 2022, while minor construction work continued there until July of this year.
“This was not an accident… They were killed by corruption, crime, undisclosed contracts, negligence and greed,” said lawyer Jovan Rajič from the stage. “That’s why we’re all here to demand accountability and justice,” he added.
The protesters planned to deliver their demands to President Aleksandar Vučič, including the resignation of Prime Minister Miloš Vučevič and Novi Sad Mayor Milan Djuric.
However, the presidential palace was locked and surrounded by the police, so they declared that they would submit their demands, including the publication of secret contracts for the reconstruction of the railway station, to the parliament. He added that if he does not meet their demands, the opposition in the parliament will initiate a vote of no confidence in the government.
The Serbian Minister of Transport and Construction has resigned
In response to the accident, the Serbian Minister of Transport and Construction, Goran Vesič, resigned last week, but despite this, the protests in the country continued in recent days, writes the AFP agency.
Approximately 20,000 people took to the streets in Novi Sad on Friday. However, the demonstration was marked by violence, fourteen people were detained on charges of attacking the local town hall, breaking windows or throwing incendiary objects.
Prime Minister Vučević accused the opposition of “abusing the tragedy” and also of wanting to “take power without elections” in the country. At the same time, he announced that in the coming days there will be further accountability, or resignations. “What happened is terrible and we cannot just ignore it. It is clear that there have been failures,” he added.
