On Saturday, March 15, 2025, hundreds of thousands of protesters flooded the streets of Belgrade, Serbia’s capital, demanding accountability for the deaths of 15 individuals in the catastrophic collapse of Novi Sad Railway Station’s roof on January 11, 2025. Demonstrators accused the government of systemic corruption and nepotism in the station’s infrastructure project, igniting the largest public outcry in Serbia in over a decade.
The Novi Sad Railway Station, a flagship infrastructure project inaugurated in late 2024, partially collapsed during peak hours on January 11, crushing commuters beneath debris. The incident claimed 15 lives and left over 50 injured. Preliminary investigations revealed critical structural flaws, including substandard materials and inadequate support beams. Public anger surged as reports emerged that the construction contract had been awarded to Belgrade InfraCorp, a firm with alleged ties to senior officials in the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS).
Under banners reading “Justice for Novi Sad” and “End Corruption Now,” protesters gathered outside the Serbian Parliament and government offices, chanting slogans against President Aleksandar Vucic’s administration. Families of victims joined activists and opposition leaders, including members of the Green-Left Front and the Democratic Party, who called for the resignation of Infrastructure Minister Zoran Petrović and a full audit of recent public projects.
“My brother died because the government chose profit over people,” said Marija Kostić, a Novi Sad resident whose sibling was among the victims. “We won’t stop until those responsible face justice.”
The government denied wrongdoing, with Petrović attributing the collapse to “unforeseen engineering challenges.” However, leaked documents revealed that Belgrade InfraCorp had bypassed standard bidding processes, securing the contract despite lacking prior experience in large-scale infrastructure. Opposition MP Ana Jovanović cited a 2023 audit flagging irregularities in 40% of state-funded projects, accusing the SNS of fostering a “culture of impunity.”
Prime Minister Ana Brnabić dismissed the protests as “politically motivated theatrics,” but announced a special commission to review the incident—a move critics labeled as a delaying tactic.
The European Union urged Serbian authorities to ensure a “transparent inquiry,” while the U.S. Embassy expressed condolences and emphasized the need for accountability. Human Rights Watch highlighted Serbia’s deteriorating press freedom, noting that journalists investigating the collapse faced harassment.
The protests underscore deepening public distrust in Serbia’s institutions, compounded by years of corruption scandals and authoritarian governance. With elections approaching in 2026, opposition coalitions aim to capitalize on the unrest. Meanwhile, the EU has warned that stalled judicial reforms and graft could hinder Serbia’s accession talks.
Civil groups plan nationwide strikes if their demands for an independent probe are unmet. As Belgrade braces for prolonged unrest, the Novi Sad tragedy has become a rallying cry for systemic change, testing the resilience of Serbia’s political landscape.
