A heavy police presence remains this morning in front of the Serbian Parliament, where Dijana Hrka, the mother of 16 victims killed in the Novi Sad canopy collapse, continues her hunger strike — a desperate act of protest against a government that has turned its back on justice.
Despite the cold and the night-long tension, Hrka remains steadfast in her tent on the corner of Takovska Street, accompanied by war veterans and around 20 citizens who stood by her throughout the night.
According to those present, there were no incidents in the early morning hours, but witnesses describe the police behavior overnight as “deeply shameful.”
“I spent the night here with Dijana Hrka because of my conscience. I don’t expect change soon — maybe within a year — but we can’t remain silent,” said Željko, one of the supporters.
The entire area surrounding the National Assembly has been sealed off by police, with access to Nikola Pašić Square and King Aleksandar Boulevard completely blocked. Barricades and cordons now surround what should be a public square — a stark image of a regime afraid of its own citizens.
Meanwhile, the ambulance service confirmed that two people were injured during last night’s police operations — a police officer with a leg injury and a woman who suffered minor injuries and was taken to the Emergency Center.
Dijana Hrka began her hunger strike yesterday, fulfilling her promise made during the mass commemoration in Novi Sad to protest until President Aleksandar Vučić meets her three demands related to accountability for the tragedy that killed her son, Stefan Hrka, and 15 others.
Instead of dialogue or empathy, the state has responded with intimidation and force. Dozens of heavily armed police units surrounded peaceful citizens last night, blocking streets and detaining protesters.
In total, 37 people were arrested, among them the well-known basketball player and activist Vladimir Štimac, who had joined the crowd in solidarity.
What should have been a moment of compassion and reflection has once again turned into a display of the government’s paranoia and hostility toward dissent. A grieving mother, asking for truth, now faces riot police instead of justice.
As dawn breaks over Belgrade, the image remains haunting: a woman in mourning, fasting for justice — surrounded not by citizens’ representatives, but by shields and uniforms.
