Tens of thousands of Serbs have gathered in Novi Sad to commemorate one year since a deadly railway station collapse that has galvanized anti-government sentiment and continues to test the embattled President Aleksandar Vučić.
The exact moment of the disaster – 11:52am on November 1, 2024 – was marked with a somber 16 minutes of silence for the 16 people who lost their lives. Thousands more packed into the square as mourners placed flowers and candles along temporary fencing near the damaged station entrance.
The tragedy has been instrumental in inspiring Serbia's largest youth-led movement since the fall of Slobodan Milošević, a hardline leader who died in 2006. Protesters initially demanded transparency into the disaster but soon escalated to criticizing corruption, nepotism, and calls for early parliamentary elections – which are due in 2027.
The march from Novi Pazar, some 340km south of the capital, was completed after 16 days, with protesters displaying their determination and solidarity. The people of Novi Sad have welcomed the marchers, waving flags and blowing whistles in a display of unity.
While Vučić remains defiant and has branded demonstrators as "terrorists", Saturday's gathering may have shaken him. In a rare televised address on Friday, he expressed remorse for his earlier rhetoric, calling for dialogue to avoid further destruction.
The government has declared the day a national mourning, while Serbia seeks to join the EU but is facing opposition from Brussels due to Vučić's crackdown and close ties with Russia and China. The EU's commissioner for enlargement, Marta Kos, hailed the anti-government protests as "changing" Serbia, saying they are moving towards accountability, free expression, and inclusive democracy – values essential for joining the EU.
Despite largely peaceful demonstrations, the situation remains volatile, with allegations of police brutality and excessive force surfacing in August. In September, 13 individuals were charged in connection with the disaster, while a separate inquiry continues alongside an EU-backed probe into possible misuse of EU funds in the project.
The anniversary has seen Vučić's stance tested once again, as the country struggles to come to terms with its recent past and face an uncertain future.
The exact moment of the disaster – 11:52am on November 1, 2024 – was marked with a somber 16 minutes of silence for the 16 people who lost their lives. Thousands more packed into the square as mourners placed flowers and candles along temporary fencing near the damaged station entrance.
The tragedy has been instrumental in inspiring Serbia's largest youth-led movement since the fall of Slobodan Milošević, a hardline leader who died in 2006. Protesters initially demanded transparency into the disaster but soon escalated to criticizing corruption, nepotism, and calls for early parliamentary elections – which are due in 2027.
The march from Novi Pazar, some 340km south of the capital, was completed after 16 days, with protesters displaying their determination and solidarity. The people of Novi Sad have welcomed the marchers, waving flags and blowing whistles in a display of unity.
While Vučić remains defiant and has branded demonstrators as "terrorists", Saturday's gathering may have shaken him. In a rare televised address on Friday, he expressed remorse for his earlier rhetoric, calling for dialogue to avoid further destruction.
The government has declared the day a national mourning, while Serbia seeks to join the EU but is facing opposition from Brussels due to Vučić's crackdown and close ties with Russia and China. The EU's commissioner for enlargement, Marta Kos, hailed the anti-government protests as "changing" Serbia, saying they are moving towards accountability, free expression, and inclusive democracy – values essential for joining the EU.
Despite largely peaceful demonstrations, the situation remains volatile, with allegations of police brutality and excessive force surfacing in August. In September, 13 individuals were charged in connection with the disaster, while a separate inquiry continues alongside an EU-backed probe into possible misuse of EU funds in the project.
The anniversary has seen Vučić's stance tested once again, as the country struggles to come to terms with its recent past and face an uncertain future.
by protesting against corruption & demanding change! It's sad that 16 people lost their lives 
but it's awesome that their memories are still remembered & honored in a somber moment of silence 
. The march from Novi Pazar was a huge deal 
and it's amazing to see the youth-led movement gaining momentum! 
The EU's commissioner for enlargement saying they're moving towards accountability, free expression & inclusive democracy is a big thumbs up 
. It's crazy how it all started with 16 people losing their lives in that train station collapse. The youth-led movement is like a breath of fresh air for Serbia - they're demanding change and transparency, just like we did back in the day 
. But I'm not sure if that's enough to quell the protests or make people trust him again. The EU's involvement is definitely a game-changer - it'll be fascinating to see how this all plays out 
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. It's crazy how the EU is trying to join Serbia but there's this opposition because of his policies 
. Marta Kos said something important about Serbia moving towards democracy and that gives me hope 
. But, honestly, it feels like Vučić is just digging himself deeper into trouble 
. The government declaring a national mourning is a good start, I guess 
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. The EU's commissioner saying that Serbia is moving towards accountability and free expression... it's like they're finally listening to the people for once 
. But we'll just have to wait and see how this all plays out. One thing's for sure, though: it's gonna be interesting to see how Serbia navigates its future 
it's like something out of a nightmare! I feel so bad for the families of the 16 people who lost their lives 
. It's crazy how this tragedy has brought together thousands of young people in Serbia, demanding change and fighting for their rights 
. President Vučić's response is concerning, though - using phrases like "terrorists" to describe protesters? That just shows his lack of understanding 
. I'm glad the EU's commissioner, Marta Kos, is recognizing the value of accountability, free expression, and inclusive democracy 
. Can't we all just come together and find a way forward? 
. Can't we all just get along and work together to solve problems instead of resorting to protests and blame-shifting? 
. I hope he starts listening to their demands for change, like more transparency and accountability in the government. It's all about being open to dialogue and finding solutions, you know? The EU's support is a big deal too - it shows they value those same values: free expression, inclusive democracy... let's keep hoping for positive change! 
but at the same time, i can see why he'd try to spin it as terrorism instead of dealing with the real problems 
his "terrorist" comment tho was low 
it's amazing to see how far they've come in 16 days, from Novi Pazar to Novi Sad, with everyone supporting them along the way 
anyone think Vučić's gonna change his tune now tho? 
and ppl r not backing down!!! they're still demanding answers about that deadly rail collapse & corruption 
I'm still shaking my head over this anniversary gathering in Novi Sad... like, can't they just give Aleksandar Vučić a break already?! 
The poor guy's been dealing with all these protests for a whole year now, and he still won't admit that maybe, just maybe, his govt messed up 
The EU's commissioner for enlargement seems pretty optimistic about the situation, but we've seen how things go in Serbia when it comes to protests and government policies... 
It'll be interesting to see how this anniversary day affects the protests and the overall mood in the country. Are people going to keep pushing for change or is this just a one-time thing?