Historic demo in Belgrade rocks Vucic gov’t

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Crowds flooded the streets of Belgrade on Saturday, 15 March, in the largest demonstration of the mounting anger towards the government to date, and possibly the biggest protest in the Balkan country’s history.

The students leading the protests are demanding government accountability following the collapse of a railway station in November, which killed 15 people.

Since then, the protests have grown in scale and scope, with demonstrators broadening their demands to hold Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic’s government accountable for alleged systemic corruption, negligence, and opacity surrounding the tragedy.

Demonstrators convened in the Serbian capital from all over the country, despite logistical challenges, including state-controlled transport providers suspending routes to Belgrade. Students were joined by taxi drivers, farmers, bikers, military veterans and other groups, in such numbers that routes to the multiple gatherings around Belgrade were jammed.

Government and independent sources gave vastly different estimates of the size of the demonstration. While the Serbian Interior Ministry claimed attendance was 107,000, the Independent Serb NGO Public Meeting Archive estimated participation at 275-325,000. “Everything indicates this is the biggest rally in Belgrade’s history,” it wrote in an online post.

Vucic has acknowledged but rejected the protesters demands, saying he will not be “blackmailed”. To date Serbian prime minister Milos Vucevic remains the highest profile political casualty of the crisis, as public outrage continues to mount.

Recent opinion polls in Serbia indicate a significant decline in public support for Vucic and his Serbian Progressive Party (SNS). Over half of respondents distrust Vucic, while only a third have confidence in his leadership, an internal government poll revealed. 

In contrast, the student-led protests have garnered the backing of 58% of those surveyed. Additionally, a recent NSPM poll showed that a potential coalition of opposition parties could secure 41.3% of the popular vote, surpassing the 32.8% projected for the SNS-led coalition. 

Footage shows police using sound cannon

The demonstration, named “15th for 15” in memory of the victims of the canopy collapse, offered multiple assembly points before participants converged at the National Assembly, where streets were jammed and with mobile and internet services disrupted.

During a 15-minute silence in honour of the victims, a loud, unexplained noise, likened to an incoming projectile or falling aircraft, startled the crowd. Military analyst Aleksandar Radic said the sound may have been caused by a sound cannon, which the police rejected as false.

The unrest has grown steadily, with demonstrators blocking key infrastructure and occupying public buildings. Students recently barricaded Serbia’s public television station in Belgrade for over 22 hours, demanding transparency and accountability. On Saturday, vehicles adorned with Serbian flags formed convoys.

The scale of the demonstrations presents a significant challenge to Vucic, whose Serbian Progressive Party has held power since 2012. While Prime Minister Miloš Vučević announced his resignation in January, he remains in office pending parliamentary ratification. Vucic, closely linked to the Novi Sad renovation, has dismissed calls for his resignation, framing the protests as an attempted “colour revolution” with alleged foreign backing.

In a post-protest press conference, he accused opposition parties of operating a “criminal network” to topple his government. While Vucic has dismissed the protests as a Western-backed attempt to undermine him, opposition leaders say the government is using the crisis to justify further repression. However, student leaders have distanced themselves from political factions, insisting their demands focus solely on justice and transparency.

Meanwhile the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) has formally announced an investigation into the misuse of EU funds in Serbia, intensifying pressure on Vucic. The EPPO’s probe focuses on allegations of corruption linked to the 1 November 2024 collapse of a canopy at the railway station in Novi Sad, north Serbia, which resulted in 15 fatalities. The Office’s cross-border financial crimes framework gives it jurisdiction over EU funds in non-EU states.

Demo protests Chinese silence over tragedy

The canopy collapse has raised serious concerns over infrastructure safety and the involvement of Chinese companies in Serbia’s railway development projects. Public frustration has been directed at the Chinese companies involved in Serbian infrastructure projects. Protesters have pointed to broader concerns regarding Chinese investment in Serbia, arguing that China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) projects often lack proper oversight and accountability.

The ill-fated Novi Sad railway station, originally built in 1964, underwent major renovations from 2021-24 and was carried out by a consortium of Chinese firms: the China Railway International Co., Ltd. and the China Communications Construction Company, Ltd, under the BRI.

While the Chinese consortium and Serbian Railways Infrastructure maintain that the collapsed canopy was part of the original 1960s structure and not reconstructed during renovations, other reports suggest modifications to the structure may have compromised its stability.

Following the collapse, China Railway International Corporation reportedly declined a request from Serbian Railways Infrastructure to assess the station building’s stability, further fueling accusations of negligence. Serbian engineer Danijel Dasic has pointed to the addition of steel structures and glass panels as a potential factor in the collapse.

Students leading the protests are demanding that all of the documents related to the Chinese-led renovation project be made public, rejecting as insufficient the limited disclosures from authorities. They are also calling for criminal charges to be made against those deemed culpable, including former construction minister Goran Vesic, along with the release of students detained during previous demonstrations.

EU, UN underline right to peaceful protest

The protests have drawn international attention, with both the EU and the UN calling on Serbian authorities to respect the right to peaceful demonstration. Western governments have taken a cautious stance, mindful of diplomatic relations with Vucic despite rising unrest. The Serbian president has cultivated ties with Donald Trump, recently approving a Trump-branded hotel project in Belgrade. Trump’s son, Donald Trump Jr, has echoed Vucic’s claims that the protests are foreign-backed, though no evidence has been provided.

The EU has called on Serbian authorities to respect the right to peaceful assembly and avoid heavy-handed measures against demonstrators. The European Commission has also warned that financial aid to Serbia could face greater scrutiny if corruption allegations are confirmed.

As protests continue, Serbia’s political crisis deepens. Opposition leaders have proposed a technocratic interim government to oversee elections, arguing that Vucic’s control of state media and institutions prevents a fair process. Students, however, remain focused on seeking justice for the Novi Sad victims. “We are making progress,” one activist said, “but none of our demands have been met yet.”