A red hand stamped with the word “criminals” – this is the logo demonstrators have been displaying on the streets for three weeks, targeting state institutions in Serbia. Citizens protesting demand accountability for the 15 fatalities and two critically injured individuals caused by the collapse of a canopy in the square in front of the train station in Novi Sad on November 1.
This modern building, originally constructed in 1964, was recently reopened after three years of renovations. The construction project was carried out by a Chinese company. However, according to the Serbian Railways Society, the collapsed canopy was not part of the renovation measures.
In several cities across Serbia, traffic was halted, and citizens observed 15 minutes of silence on Friday (November 22, 2024) to honor the victims of the tragedy. Citizens have continued protesting, believing this incident resulted from corruption, a lack of transparency, and negligence during the station’s renovation. On Thursday (November 22, 2024), the prosecutor’s office arrested 12 individuals linked to the tragedy, including the Minister of Construction, Transport, and Infrastructure, Goran Vesić. These arrests followed massive protests.
Arbitrary Arrests of Demonstrators
Mila Pajić, a university student, is one of the protest organizers. Between her lectures, she tirelessly coordinates new actions – blocking bridges and roads, making calls for solidarity, and promoting civil disobedience.
Shortly before one such action, Mila and her friend Doroteja Antić were arrested by the police. “Six men dressed in black surrounded us and instructed us to go with them,” Mila recounts, still shaken. “I refused because they didn’t identify themselves or show us any ID. But they simply dragged me and pushed me into a black Jeep heading to an unknown destination.”
During their interrogation, they were questioned about who organized the protests and what plans they and their collaborators had. The two girls were interrogated for four hours. During this time, Doroteja’s and Mila’s parents hired lawyers and searched for their daughters at police stations. It was only after officially reporting them as missing that Mila and Doroteja were released.
“Both the police and Serbia’s intelligence agency, BIA, confirmed that our names weren’t in any of their systems,” Mila told DW. “There are no official records, no interrogation logs, nothing.” So, who interrogated and intimidated these two students?
Uncertain Number of Arrests
In the three weeks following the tragedy in Serbia’s second-largest city, dozens of individuals across the country have been arrested in a similar manner – including opposition politicians, activists, and students. When DW inquired about the exact number of arrests and the charges against them, Serbian police did not respond. Officially, at least 15 people are known to remain in custody.
One case attracting significant attention and solidarity is that of art student Relja Stojanović. During a protest, he tried to protect his friend from an unknown individual attacking her – only to learn later that the attacker was an undercover police officer. Stojanović is now accused of physically assaulting an officer.
Artists in Novi Sad have joined the protests in solidarity with Stojanović. In the city’s theaters, it has become a regular ritual for performers to address the audience before shows, calling for political accountability for the train station tragedy and demanding the release of all arrested citizens.
