BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) — Instead of the traditional boisterous street party on New Year's Eve, tens of thousands of protesters led by university students rallied overnight in Belgrade and other Serbian cities to demand political reforms and justice in the Balkan country.
Protesters have been actively demonstrating following the tragic collapse of a concrete canopy in the northern city of Novi Sad's main railway station on November 1, which left 15 dead.
The tragedy has been blamed by Serbia's populist leadership on corruption and substandard construction practices, leading to widespread public outrage and calls for accountability.
Trusted news and daily treats, straight to your inbox
See for yourself: The Yodel is the source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories.
Students from various universities in Belgrade organized the protest under the slogan 'There is no New Year – the old one is still due to us.'
The loud crowd, chanting “We Want Justice,” fell silent at 11:52 p.m., with 15 minutes to honor the victims of the Novi Sad tragedy. Many held banners with a red handprint, which has become a symbol of anti-government protests, and told authorities they had blood on their hands.
Earlier, they marched past a state-sponsored concert where the crowd danced to folk music. Police guarded the area where the concert took place and installed metal barriers while directing the protesting crowd to other streets nearby to avoid contact between the two groups.
The anti-government protesters emphasized that despite the holidays, their commitment to seeking justice remains steadfast. The student-led movement has attracted support from several civil society groups, including professors, farmers and actors, reflecting broader dissatisfaction with the leadership of autocratic President Aleksandar Vucic.
Thousands of people also gathered in Novi Sad and the southern city of Nis for parallel rallies, also led by university students in those cities.
In Belgrade, state-sponsored concerts and other New Year celebrations were organized in the city center and in a newly built high-rise district on Belgrade's waterfront, which Vucic claims is his own project together with investors from the United Arab Emirates.
Belgrade has become a favorite party destination for tourists during the New Year's Eve celebrations with street parties and big fireworks.
The Belgrade crowd braved very cold weather and fog to join the students. The New Year's Eve protest comes just over a week after tens of thousands gathered with students at one of the largest gatherings in recent years in the Serbian capital.
The Serbian public prosecutor on Monday charged thirteen people, including a former minister, with the collapse of the concrete roof. The protesters say this is not enough as the indictment does not include allegations of possible corrupt deals during a renovation of Novi Sad train station, which was part of a broader deal with Chinese companies.
Vucic previously told pro-government Prva TV that all student demands have been met.
“I have always been ready to talk, I am asking them now, but they do not want to talk to me, they have no arguments, the prosecutors have met their final demands, all the documents they wanted have been published and nothing has happened ,” Vucic said. said, adding that he will not be toppled by street protests.
___
Associated Press writer Jovana Gec contributed to this report.
