Serbia’s Railway Tragedy Fuels a Two-Year Fight for Justice and Change

Protests and first arrests

On November 5, 2024, thousands gathered in Novi Sad to seek accountability for the deaths. Demonstrations turned into clashes with police; dozens were arrested and City Hall was damaged. Observers noted the rapid judicial response to protesters while the investigation into the collapse remained stalled.

On November 21, the higher public prosecutor’s office in Novi Sad said 11 people had been arrested in connection with the deaths. Those arrested included former Construction Minister Goran Vesic and other officials.

Documents and political pressure

After months of protests and university blockades, authorities released part of the station reconstruction documentation on December 11. The release comprised eight binders with 195 documents. Students and others said the release did not meet their demands for full transparency and criminal accountability for contractors and supervisory institutions. On January 28, 2025, governing party activists attacked Academy of Arts students in Novi Sad, causing serious bodily harm.

Resignation and mass demonstration

Following public outcry over the attack, Prime Minister Milos Vucevic submitted his resignation. It was the government’s biggest political concession to that point, but protests and blockades continued.

On March 15, 2025, hundreds of thousands demonstrated in Belgrade. By June 25, some activists accused of undermining the constitutional order had left Serbia for European Union countries, where they continued drawing attention to the situation. The prosecutor had refused to drop the charges, while security services continued to exert pressure.

Election campaign and pardons

On September 27, 2026, longtime leader Aleksandar Vucic resigned as Serbia’s president to lead the Serbian Progressive Party-led electoral list. On his final day in office, he pardoned all prosecuted students and activists.

The pardons ended proceedings over allegations of undermining the constitutional order and allowed activists in exile to return safely. The move was widely viewed as an effort to ease social tensions before the election campaign.