People died at a train station in Serbia – Serbs in Belgrade protesting against corruption

November 03, 2024, 19:01

Hundreds of people took to the streets in the Serbian capital Belgrade to protest after a roof collapsed at a train station. The protesters blame the tragedy on the negligence and corruption of the authorities, write Reuters.

The tragedy happened on November 1 in the city of Novi Sad, 70 km northwest of Belgrade. The roof of the station collapsed across the station entrance, killing 14 people and seriously injuring three others.

On Sunday, November 3, the Serbs protested with signs reading “Blood on your hands” and “Corruption kills.” Protesters chanted “Arrest [президента Александара] Vučić”.

Serbia’s opposition, activists and human rights defenders accuse the government loyal to Vucic and his Serbian Progressive Party of corruption, links to organized crime, nepotism and excessive bureaucracy. In turn, the authorities deny the charges.

“The prosecutor’s office and the police are working to establish criminal liability… Political responsibility cannot be avoided,” said Serbian Prime Minister Milos Vucevic.

Reuters notes that the station in Novi Sad has been renovated in 2021 and 2022. Minor work was completed in July this year.

Earlier, a rally was held in the center of Tbilisi due to the result of the parliamentary elections; A Georgian opposition party is calling for street protests next Monday. The impetus for this was a statement from the company HarrisX, which carried out the exit survey. Experts believe that the officially announced results, and according to what the ruling party won, are “statistically impossible.”