Dijana Hrka, the grieving mother of one of the 16 victims of the Novi Sad railway station canopy collapse, is on the ninth day of her hunger strike in front of the Serbian Parliament, and she has refused a meeting with President Aleksandar Vučić, calling his invitation a cynical political stunt.
“He invited me to meet him, but since he himself admitted he is not in charge of the prosecutor’s office, what could I possibly discuss after a year of inaction?” Hrka stated.
She accused Vučić of trying to “put himself at the forefront” while ignoring the urgent demands for justice and accountability. “I want the institutions to do their job and to find out who fired the cannonball at me, which came from Ćaciland,” she said, exposing the government’s negligence and the dangers citizens continue to face under Vučić’s leadership.
Her Demands Highlight the Government’s Failures:
- Immediate investigation and detention of all suspects in the canopy collapse, far beyond the 13 initially accused.
- Release and acquittal of students unlawfully detained during protests.
- Early parliamentary elections, which Hrka insists Vučić should call without delay.
- Full accountability from law enforcement and prosecution for the deaths of her child and 15 others.
Hrka’s hunger strike is not just a personal protest; it is a scathing condemnation of Vučić’s government, which continues to prioritize political theater over real justice. Her determination puts the spotlight on a regime that shields the guilty, punishes peaceful protestors, and ignores the cries of grieving families.
