On November 1, 2024, the newly renovated canopy of the Novi Sad railway station collapsed, killing 16 people.
The tragedy immediately became a symbol of entrenched government corruption and impunity, with protestors quickly adopting the mantra “corruption kills.”
After months of protests and immense public pressure, the Public Prosecutor’s Office for Organized Crime charged two ex-government ministers, Goran Vesić and Tomislav Momirović, with allegedly embezzling more than $115 million from funds dedicated to that single infrastructure project.
But the moment the investigation began to gain traction, resistance from Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić followed.
Regime-aligned media launched attacks against the Chief Public Prosecutor.
Shortly thereafter, the office holding key case documents caught fire under suspicious circumstances.
The message was clear: the push for accountability would not proceed uncontested.
How the protests began and why they matter
Since November 2024, hundreds of protests have been organized, not just in Belgrade, but across all Serbia.
On 15 March 2025, Serbia witnessed the largest protest in its history. According to some estimates, it was attended by over 350,000 people.
The movement began with student-led blockades of universities, after students were attacked during a silent tribute to the canopy victims.
These student movements eschewed politics and discussed actions through physical forums. Importantly, they maintained no formal leadership structure to avoid being dismantled by authorities.
