In several cities of Serbia, thousands of people awaited the new year with silent street protests as part of the anti-government demonstrations that have lasted for two months.
In Belgrade and Novi Sad, the participants of the demonstrations led by university students stood silently on the street from 11:52 p.m. to 0:15 a.m. This commemorated the fact that on November 1, 2024, at 11:52 a.m., the concrete canopy of the railway station in Novi Sad collapsed, dragging 15 people to their deaths. Since then, the opposition has been holding 15-minute silent demonstrations demanding that those responsible be found and held accountable.
In several cities, the students put up banners reading “No New Year, because you still owe us the previous one”, and many waved banners depicting bloody hands. The protesters demanded that the contracts signed with the companies involved in the reconstruction of the railway station be made public, and that the prime minister and the mayor of Újvidék resign. According to the protesters, the tragedy was caused by the pervasive corruption in the country. I would like to see the contracts because on the day of the tragedy, the competent minister and the company responsible for the construction and maintenance of the track stated that the canopy in question was not part of the renovation work, but according to numerous recordings made since then, its structure had been modified in the process and additional load they put out.
The building of the Novi Sad railway station, handed over in 1964, was renovated in several waves during 2021 and 2022, and the work continued this year as well. Construction Minister Goran Vesic announced in July that the renovation had been completed and the entire building could be used again. The minister has since resigned, but stated that he does not consider himself responsible for the incident.
On Monday, the High Prosecutor’s Office in Novi Sad filed charges against thirteen people in the case, including the former Minister of Construction. Those included in the indictment are accused of seriously endangering public safety, causing danger, and improper construction and construction work.
Due to the tragedy, the traditional New Year’s Eve street celebration was also canceled in many cities of Serbia. The amount for the celebration was donated to the families of the victims and to charity.
Charges have been brought against the former minister of transport in Serbia due to the tragedy in Novi Sad In Serbia, the winter break begins a week earlier, the president is trying to ensure that the wave of protests does not spread to secondary schools An engineer claims that he had already warned the contractor that he had noticed problems during the renovation of the collapsed Novi Sad railway station
Source: nepszava.hu
