Representatives of the student protest movement in the country condemned their detention.
The Serbian police detained the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine of the University in Novi Sad, along with five other employees for allegations of misuse of powers and fraud. This was announced on Wednesday by the Ministry of the Interior, informs TASR based on the DPA report.
The Interior Ministry informed that Dean Snežana Brkičová, two administrative workers, two accountants and the establishment representing students are accused of causing the financial damage of the state totaling 17.2 million Serbian dinars (approximately EUR 147,000).
Their detention was immediately condemned by representatives of the student protest movement in the country, describing the allegations as constructed and politically motivated. They argue that this is a part of the efforts aimed at suppressing the protesting opposition, led by universities and against – according to them – the increasingly autocratic government of Serbian President Aleksandar Vučič.
Mostly student protests of Serbia have been shaking for more than half a year. They were caused by the collapse of the superstructure above the entrance to the railway station in the town of Nový Sad, which claimed 16 victims of lives. A large part of the Serbs believe that the corruption of officials, their laxity and insufficient construction on the construction contributed to this tragedy of 1 November. The extension was collapsed only a few months after the reconstruction of the station.
The driving force of protests – including in the meantime, such as road blockages or mass demonstrations – are students who have occupied and block almost all major universities in the country since November, and in many cases they are also supported by school management.
