1 March 2025

...Mass demonstrations have gathered momentum in the country since 15 people were killed when a roof collapsed at a newly renovated train station in Serbia’s second-biggest city of Novi Sad...

Many Serbians have blamed the tragedy on corruption they link to President Aleksandar Vucic’s decade in power, teachers, farmers and other workers have joined the protests that began with a student blockade of classes at state universities in December.

Prime Minister Milos Vucevic and two other ministers have also resigned over the protests that have taken place in the capital Belgrade, as well as in towns across the country.

So far, prosecutors have charged 13 people in connection with the roof collapse...

President Vucic and other government officials have switched between issuing calls for talks and also firing off allegations that the demonstrators are being backed by foreign powers...

To quell the protests, the government has sought to meet several of the student organisers’ demands.

Those steps have included releasing a number of documents related to the renovations at the station; pardoning protesters arrested at rallies; boosting funding for higher education; and launching criminal proceedings against suspects accused of attacking demonstrators.

But students, who have emerged as the leaders of the protests, aim to continue their daily demonstrations. They also want charges against the protesting students to be dismissed, and an increased budget for higher education.