As Serbia witnesses yet another dark chapter of state repression, Dijana Hrka, the mother of Stefan Hrka — the young man who died in the Novi Sad railway station collapse caused by corruption and negligence — continues her fifth day of hunger strike in a small tent near the Serbian Parliament. Her demand is simple: justice and accountability for the death of her son and the other victims. Yet, instead of compassion or responsibility, the regime of the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) meets her plea with intimidation, noise, and arrests.
While Dijana sits weak and pale in the cold, across the street stands a camp of SNS loyalists, blasting loud music to drown out her voice and the chants of the students supporting her. Citizens describe it as a grotesque image — the suffering of a grieving mother overshadowed by the orchestrated noise of party obedience.
Today, high school and university students from across Serbia joined her in solidarity, boycotting classes and gathering in front of the Parliament. Many came from Niš, Kragujevac, Novi Sad, and Subotica, forming a powerful movement of youth against corruption and injustice. But as the protests spread, the state’s answer was swift and brutal.
In Belgrade, two Niš students, Mateja Nikolić and Luka Đorđević, were detained by police in plain clothes near Pionirski Park — without any valid reason. Their friends said the officers refused to identify themselves and dragged the students into a car. This marks the fourth time in two days that young protesters have been stopped, searched, or intimidated by police.
Meanwhile, in Novi Sad, two civic activists, Sandra Adam and Robert Silberholz, were detained for painting over the windows of SNS offices with red paint — the same color symbolizing the blood of 16 lives lost in the Novi Sad tragedy. Those same SNS premises have been closed since August, after violent clashes between citizens and party supporters. The activists were taken to the Detelinara police station, followed by a crowd demanding their release.
Across Serbia, the regime’s grip tightens — but so does the resistance. From Subotica to Novi Pazar, people have gathered in silence and solidarity, demanding accountability. Citizens chanted “Ua!” and “Kerovi!” (“dogs”) at the police guarding the SNS camp, as streetlights mysteriously went out, leaving protestors in darkness — both literal and political.
Back at her tent, Dijana Hrka’s health deteriorates. She has high blood pressure, low blood sugar, and severe exhaustion. Yet, despite her fragile state, the government continues to ignore her plea — choosing to protect party image instead of human life.
Serbia’s youth has had enough. Their message is clear: “You can silence us, but you cannot erase the truth.”
