Serbs march in memory of Novi Sad tragedy, demand accountability 10 months later

On 1 September thousands of Serbians participated in commemorative marches across the country to mark the 10-month anniversary of the Novi Sad train station canopy collapse, which claimed 16 lives on 1 November 2024. The tragedy, attributed by many to shoddy repairs linked to government corruption, sparked Serbia’s largest protest movement in decades, leading to the resignation of former Prime Minister Miloš Vučević and his cabinet.

Marches in Belgrade, Novi Sad, Subotica, and other cities underscored ongoing public outrage and demands for accountability from President Aleksandar Vučić’s administration.

Nationwide commemorations

In Belgrade, the march began at the old main train station, winding through Nemanja Street, Slavija Square, King Milan Street, Resavska Street, King Aleksandar Obrenović Boulevard, and Takovska Street, culminating at Republic Square. Participants observed a poignant 16-minute silence, symbolizing the 16 victims. Heavy police presence, including riot gear-clad officers and metal fencing around Pioneer Park and Nikola Pašić Square, signaled heightened tensions, though no violence was reported.

In Novi Sad, where the tragedy occurred, thousands gathered to honour the victims. The march ended at the railway station, where the collapsed canopy remains a stark reminder of the disaster. Protesters laid wreaths along the station’s fence and observed a 16-minute silence. Students returned to campus, while others dispersed quietly, reflecting the sombre mood.

Subotica hosted a rally under the slogan “High School Students Remember,” starting at the Radijalak sports hall. Demonstrators marched along Marshal Tito Alley and Đure Đakovića Street to the train station, placing red Styrofoam hearts inscribed with the victims’ names as a tribute.

Similar marches took place in Sremska Mitrovica, Kraljevo, Pančevo, Kragujevac, Aleksinac, Kikinda, Sombor, Leskovac, and Valjevo, uniting Serbians in shared grief and resolve.

The Novi Sad tragedy and its aftermath

On 1 November 2024 the canopy over Novi Sad’s central railway station collapsed, killing 16 people and injuring dozens. The incident, one of Serbia’s deadliest infrastructure failures, was widely blamed on substandard renovations allegedly tied to corruption within Vučić’s government. A 2023 refurbishment, overseen by state-linked contractors, used low-quality materials and bypassed safety protocols, according to a January 2025 report by Serbia’s Anti-Corruption Agency.

The tragedy ignited nationwide protests, with citizens accusing Vučić’s regime of negligence and cronyism. Demonstrators, including students and civic groups, have sustained protests for 10 months, demanding justice, transparency, and systemic reforms.

The public outcry forced the resignation of Prime Minister Miloš Vučević in December 2024, collapsing his government. Vučić, however, remains in power, denying allegations of corruption and excessive police force against protesters. In a February 2025 statement, he claimed, “Law enforcement acted with restraint to maintain order,” despite reports from Human Rights Watch documenting baton charges and tear gas use during December 2024 protests in Belgrade.

The government has launched an inquiry into the collapse, but critics, including the opposition United Group, argue it lacks independence, as key Vučić allies remain uninvestigated.

Serbia’s political and social crisis

The Novi Sad tragedy has deepened Serbia’s political divide, with Vučić’s Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) facing unprecedented scrutiny. Protests, initially sparked by grief, have evolved into a broader movement against authoritarianism, with slogans like “Stop the Corruption, Save Serbia” dominating rallies.

A July 2025 poll by the Center for Public Opinion Research showed 62% of Serbians believe government negligence contributed to the tragedy, and 54% distrust the ongoing investigation.

Serbia’s EU aspirations, a priority for Vučić, are also at risk. The tragedy looms large over Serbia’s EU accession process. The European Commission’s 2025 progress report, issued after Marta Kos assumed the enlargement portfolio in December 2024, criticised Serbia’s slow judicial reforms and media restrictions, warning that public distrust, amplified by the Novi Sad disaster, could delay talks. The EU urged a transparent investigation, with Kos stating in January 2025, “Serbia must tackle corruption and ensure accountability to progress toward EU membership.”

Vučić has organized counter-protests, including rallies in Sremska Mitrovica and Belgrade, while repeatedly accusing the West of orchestrating “color revolutions” to destabilize and topple his government, claiming foreign powers invested billions to undermine Serbia.

Caption: Protesters march during a remembrance rally for the victims of the Novi Sad train accident in Belgrade, Serbia, 01 September 2025. The march, organized by high school and university students, commemorates ten months since the railway station canopy collapsed on 1 December 2024, killing 16 people. EPA/ANDREJ CUKIC