Belgrade, January 24, 2025 – Thousands of young people, including high school students, flooded the streets of the Serbian capital today, calling for a general strike in response to the government’s handling of the tragic train station collapse in Novi Sad.
Teachers and healthcare workers joined the call for action, blocking roads across Belgrade and other cities. In Novi Sad, police arrested opposition representatives after they shut down a highway in protest.
The strike is the latest move by Serbia’s student movement, which has ramped up pressure on the government. Students are demanding the resignation of top officials and greater transparency in the investigation into the November 1st disaster, which claimed 15 lives after the railway station’s roof collapsed.
Protesters blame poor oversight and corruption for the incident, which occurred shortly after the station’s renovation was completed.
The protests, which happen every Friday at 11:52 AM to honor the victims, have seen students blocking roads across Serbia for almost three months. The strike today marks an intensification of their efforts.
Despite growing pressure, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić met with supporters in Jagodina, dismissing the protests. Vučić’s government claims to have met all student demands, releasing documents related to the station renovation project. They also accuse protesters of being backed by foreign powers. (TemA)
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