Tens of thousands gather in anti-government protest

23/12/2024 6:08

Tens of thousands of people

gathered in central Belgrade on Sunday to protest against

President Aleksandar Vucic and his ruling Serbian Progressive

Party (SNS), whom they blame for a railway station roof collapse

last month that killed 15 people.



The concrete awning of the recently renovated roof of Novi

Sad station caved in on Nov. 1, killing 14 and injuring three.

One of the injured died later.



Opposition leaders and the public have taken to the streets

repeatedly, blaming the accident on shoddy construction

resulting from government corruption and nepotism.



The ruling coalition denies those charges, and Vucic has

said those responsible must be held to account.



The protesters on Sunday evening switched on the lights of

their mobile phones and stood in silence for 15 minutes to

commemorate the victims.



Some shouted "Vucic, thief!". Others held up banners reading

"You have blood on your hands".



"We came here to say 'Stop' to everything that has been

happening since 2012 [when Vucic's party took power]," said

Aleksa, 30, an IT expert from Novi Sad.



"We want to see an end to corruption and nepotism."



Students at state universities in Belgrade, Kragujevac and

Nis have been protesting for weeks to demand the release of all

documents relevant to the renovation of the station, as well as

criminal prosecution of officials responsible for the disaster.



Every day they block traffic in front of their faculties for

15 minutes to commemorate the 15 victims.