Professor of Law Miodrag Jovanović has criticized the current Serbian government, stating that as long as it remains in power, institutions will not fully function to ensure equality before the law. He highlighted that this has become evident even months after students began protesting, according to N1.
Commemorative Gathering in Novi Sad
Commenting on the memorial event in Novi Sad marking the anniversary of the canopy collapse at the city’s railway station, Jovanović said the most striking aspect was the “impressive number of people who paid their respects to the 16 victims in the most dignified way while sending a clear message — accountability must be established, and this should not be treated as a natural disaster but as a result of human error, negligence, and irresponsibility.”
He noted that the gathering was not merely ceremonial. Students and citizens mobilized not only to honor the victims but also to demand both legal and political accountability.
Lack of Accountability
More than a year after the incident, no one has been held responsible. On the pressure needed to prompt institutional action, Jovanović pointed out that Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić himself had signaled a lack of commitment to reconstruction and accountability immediately after the collapse, sending “a clear message about how this government perceives the event and seeks to evade responsibility.”
He added that over the past year, some voices in the judiciary have shown willingness to act professionally despite attempts at strict partisan control.
“There is a conflict in the judiciary between those who want to perform their duties professionally and those who seek to act as an extension of the government,” Jovanović said. He noted that the government is attempting to centralize control over the Belgrade Higher Public Prosecutor’s Office.
Government Control and Dishonor
Jovanović emphasized that the government controls every segment of society in the most dishonorable manner.
“Certainly, there have been far worse governments in history, but Vučić’s will go down as one of the most dishonorable. When a regime is willing to act shamelessly, the only response from the other side can be patience, organization, and perseverance in resistance,” he said.
He concluded that in such a deep societal crisis, the only solution is free and fair elections, especially in a country where elections have been held frequently without clear justification.
