Fury over Serbia station tragedy prompts first arrests
After three weeks of protests calling for justice in the wake of the deadly collapse at a railway station in Serbia’s second-largest city, arrests have begun.
Prosecutors have ordered the questioning of 11 individuals in connection with the disaster at the recently-renovated Novi Sad station.
The incident, which occurred earlier this month, claimed the lives of 15 people when a concrete and glass canopy collapsed onto them.
Since then, Novi Sad has been in a state of angry mourning.
Over 20,000 people participated in one demonstration, the largest protest in the city in decades.
Protesters have been chanting the slogan “corruption kills.”
They argue that the government’s opaque procurement practices for infrastructure projects have led to corruption, benefiting select contractors while endangering public safety.
Among those arrested is Serbia’s former construction minister, Goran Vesic.
Vesic resigned shortly after the canopy collapse but denied any responsibility.
“I cannot accept guilt for the deaths,” he said when stepping down. “Neither I nor the people who work with me bear any responsibility for this tragedy.”
However, prosecutors appear to have a different perspective, announcing an investigation into “criminal acts against public safety.”
Vesic, meanwhile, has sought to present himself as a cooperative witness rather than a suspected perpetrator.
“I voluntarily responded to the call of police officers with whom I came to Novi Sad and made myself available to the investigative authorities,” he posted on social media.
The arrests follow a televised address on Tuesday in which Serbia’s president, Aleksandar Vucic, warned of consequences for those who were responsible for the disaster.
“15 people did not die because of their own fault, but because someone didn’t do their job properly,” he said.
The problem for President Vucic is that he has made himself very closely associated with Novi Sad railway station. It is a key stop on the government’s flagship infrastructure project – the high-speed line from Belgrade to Budapest.
Vucic inaugurated the station in 2022, alongside Hungary’s prime minister, Viktor Orban.
“This is our way to modern Europe – our way to a better, progressive Serbia,” he told the BBC at the time.
Reconstruction continued at the station even after the inauguration – and this summer there was another opening ceremony.
There was heavy symbolism surrounding this month’s station disaster as well as a high cost in human lives.
Serbia’s opposition parties have been quick to attack President Vucic and his Progressive Party government, arguing that nepotism and a culture of impunity are behind the canopy collapse.
“The slogan of the people is that we are all below this canopy that’s called Serbia – it can collapse wherever you are,” says Biljana Djordjevic, co-leader of the Green-Left Front.
“The Progressive Party base their power on the claim that they are building the country – and that this increases living standards. If now people feel unsafe about this, then their policy is seen as invalid.”
The protesters are unlikely to be satisfied by today’s arrests.
They have consistently demanded the resignations of Prime Minister Milos Vucevic – a former mayor of Novi Sad – and the current office-holder, Milan Djuric.
If the judicial process can find quick and credible answers, that may calm the crowds.
Otherwise, President Vucic and the government may be in for a bumpy ride.
