Serbia marks two years since station disaster that sparked political change

Serbia marks the second anniversary of the Novi Sad railway station disaster on Sunday, following an election victory last week by the opposition movement that emerged from protests over the tragedy. The collapse on November 1, 2024, killed 16 people and triggered demands for accountability that developed into a broader campaign for political change.

Fourteen people died at the scene when a concrete canopy fell from the renovated station building. Three others were hospitalised in critical condition, and two subsequently died, one in November 2024 and another in March 2025. Public anger focused on construction standards, transparency in public spending and corruption. Thousands demonstrated in Novi Sad four days after the collapse, with clashes, dozens of arrests and damage to City Hall.

Pressure intensified as opposition lawmakers, councillors and citizens blocked the local court and prosecutor’s office for three consecutive days beginning on November 19, demanding the release of detained protesters and progress in the investigation. On November 21, prosecutors announced 11 arrests linked to the disaster, including former Construction Minister Goran Vesic. Attacks on students and professors during a memorial gathering in Belgrade later that month prompted a university sit-in.

Students demanded proceedings against the attackers, access to reconstruction records and freedom for detained demonstrators. Authorities released 195 documents in eight binders on December 11, but protesters considered the disclosure inadequate. Later that month, prosecutors indicted 13 people on suspicions including serious offences against public security, improper construction work and abuse of office. Disputes over prosecutorial jurisdiction and the transfer of files added to questions about transparency.

A separate investigation opened in Belgrade in January 2025 into possible financial fraud, corruption and money laundering connected to the reconstruction. It involved Vesic, former Trade Minister Tomislav Momirovic and 12 others. That month, an attack by governing party activists that seriously injured students in Novi Sad prompted Prime Minister Milos Vucevic to resign. Demonstrations and blockades nevertheless continued.

The detention of 13 activists and students on March 11, 2025, on charges of undermining the constitutional order and violent behaviour drew accusations of political motivation from civil society groups and citizens. Hundreds of thousands demonstrated in Belgrade four days later. Some detainees were moved to house arrest in May, while some accused activists subsequently left for European Union countries as charges remained and pressure from security services continued.

The movement entered electoral politics in September 2026 after snap parliamentary elections were announced for October. Students, professors and legal experts joined the Student List-Students Win grouping. Aleksandar Vucic resigned as president on September 27 to lead the Serbian Progressive Party-led electoral list. Before leaving office, he pardoned all prosecuted students and activists, enabling those in exile to return safely.

Vucic conceded defeat to the Student List in elections that recorded the highest turnout in more than three decades. As the movement takes power, accountability for the station collapse remains a central issue two years after the disaster.