Hundreds of opposition activists gathered in Serbia’s capital, Belgrade, on Sunday to protest alleged corruption and negligence by local authorities following a fatal accident on Friday at a northern railway station.
The accident occurred in Novi Sad, about 70 kilometers northwest of Belgrade, when part of the station’s entrance roof collapsed, killing 14 people and seriously injuring three others, according to Reuters.
Protesters carried signs reading “Blood on Your Hands” and “Corruption Kills” while calling for the arrest of Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić as they marched through the city center.
Opposition politicians, activists, and rights groups accuse Vučić’s administration, particularly those loyal to his Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), of deep-rooted corruption, ties to organized crime, nepotism, and excessive bureaucracy. Vučić has denied these allegations.
On Sunday, local prosecutors announced that 26 people, including Transport Minister Goran Vesić, had been questioned in connection with the accident and that critical documents had been seized. An additional 14 people are scheduled for questioning.
“The prosecution and police are working to establish criminal accountability… and we are open to addressing political accountability as well,” said Serbian Prime Minister Miloš Vučević in a televised statement on Sunday.
The Novi Sad railway station was renovated between 2021 and 2022, with smaller maintenance projects continuing until July of this year.
