Serbia’s public broadcaster, Radio Television of Serbia (RTS), interrupted its regular programming on Saturday at 11:52 a.m., exactly two years after the collapse of the railway station canopy in Novi Sad, and displayed the names of all 16 people who lost their lives.
RTS, which was broadcasting a special program from Novi Sad, replaced its regular television image with a black screen as the names of the victims appeared one after another.
At the same time, a 16-minute silence began outside the railway station, with one minute dedicated to each victim.
The special broadcast was introduced by Milan Srdić, editor of the RTS correspondent office in Novi Sad. He said he had requested that students be invited as guests and that the program include 16 minutes of silence in memory of those killed.
Several days earlier, Srdić had publicly criticized the public broadcaster after its special election-night coverage failed to show the railway station alongside the names of the victims.
Remembering the 16 victims
The canopy at Novi Sad railway station collapsed on November 1, 2024, killing 16 people and seriously injuring Teodora Martinko, who was born in 2001.
The victims were Sara Firić, Valentina Firić, Đorđe Firić, Milica Adamović, Nemanja Komar, Anđela Ruman, Miloš Milosavljević, Stefan Hrka, Sanja Ćirić Arbutina, Vasko Sazdovski, Goranka Raca, Vukašin Raković, Mileva Karanović, Đuro Švonja, Anja Radonjić and Vukašin Crnčević.
Criminal proceedings have yet to reach trial
Investigations and legal proceedings related to the collapse are being handled by the Higher Public Prosecutor’s Offices in Novi Sad and Belgrade, as well as the Prosecutor’s Office for Organized Crime.
However, no trial has begun in any of the cases.
According to a statement from the Higher Court in Novi Sad cited by Serbian media, a preparatory hearing cannot be scheduled until the Supreme Court rules on requests submitted by defense lawyers seeking protection of legality. The case files are currently before the Supreme Court.
The second anniversary of the tragedy has renewed public attention on the victims, the accountability process and the circumstances surrounding the collapse.
