Serbia marks anniversary of tragedy that sparked victorious student movement

Novi Sad, Serbia witnessed a somber commemoration on November 2 for the victims of a railway station disaster that in 2023 sparked a student-led anti-government movement, ultimately leading to the downfall of the right-wing ruling party a week prior. The event marked two years since a concrete canopy at the renovated railway station in Novi Sad, Serbia's second-largest city, collapsed, resulting in the deaths of 16 people, including two young sisters aged six and ten.

The tragedy triggered some of Serbia's largest protests since the fall of strongman Slobodan Milosevic in 2000.

Dijana Hrka, whose 27-year-old son Stefan was among the 16 victims, expressed her emotional struggle as she approached a heart-shaped banner bearing her son’s name among 16 others displayed outside the station. Despite the difficulty in returning to the site of the disaster, she remains hopeful for justice. "I believe justice will be served," she said.

Crowds gathered at the railway station, laying flowers and candles as they observed 16 minutes of silence for each victim at the exact time the concrete canopy collapsed two years ago. The atmosphere was a mixture of positive and negative emotions for the residents, as Danijela, a 50-year-old Novi Sad resident, put it.

The commemoration took place just a week after the student movement secured a victory in snap elections, returning to the same site where protests first began. Students gathered, carrying floral wreaths, and reflected on the sadness that permeates the place. Simona Sapcic, an 18-year-old student who traveled from the northern city of Subotica, expressed her feeling that "there's something about this place. You can just feel the sadness in the air."

In their statement, the students emphasized that "tragedy" was not sufficient to describe the event two years ago. They demanded a transparent investigation and labeled the disaster a responsibility issue, ultimately contributing to the election victory of the student-backed list, which secured around 140 seats in the 250-member parliament, enabling it to govern alone. Hrka expressed her hope that the political upheaval would accelerate investigations into the tragedy.

Former construction minister Goran Vesic, who resigned days after the collapse, has been charged in 2025 alongside 12 others with a serious crime against public safety. The European Public Prosecutor’s Office is also investigating possible misuse of EU funds linked to the renovation. If justice prevails, Hrka hopes it will be a deterrent, ensuring that such tragedies never occur again.