Police intervened with force to disperse students and citizens protesting in front of the Faculty of Sports and Physical Education (DIF) in Novi Sad on April 28, 2025. The protest was part of a months-long blockade organized by students demanding accountability for the deaths of 16 individuals in a tragic accident at Novi Sad’s railway station in November 2024.
The police used batons, shields, and pepper spray to break up the blockade, leaving many protesters, including students, professors, and opposition activists, injured. Dean Patrik Drid, who opposes the blockade, had called the police to remove the protesters. Despite the police action, Drid was unable to enter the building, as protesters continued their demonstration.
Opposition groups condemned the use of excessive force, with some protesters responding by throwing eggs and water at the police. Minister of the Interior Ivica Dačić defended the police’s actions, claiming they only used minimal force after being attacked by protesters. The protests are part of a broader movement in Serbia calling for accountability for the November 2024 accident and addressing systemic corruption. The students have vowed to continue their blockade until their demands are met.
