Serbia sees massive Belgrade protests demanding early elections after train‑station tragedy

More than 100,000 people gathered in central Belgrade to renew calls for early parliamentary elections, a demand that grew out of the anti‑corruption movement sparked by the November 2024 roof collapse at the Novi Sad railway station, which killed 16 people. Demonstrators marched under the slogan “Students win,” carrying banners, flags and university symbols, while participants such as 24‑year‑old architecture student Angela and activist Ivan Milosavljevic stressed their resolve to keep the pressure on the government.

Police met the crowd with a large presence, using pepper spray and making several arrests, including at least three individuals detained during clashes on the streets near the Student Cultural Center and Prince Miloš Street. Police chief Dragan Vasiljević later estimated around 34,000 participants, but archive footage released by the Belgrade Institute of Archives showed the crowd exceeded 100,000. The European Commissioner for Human Rights warned that the situation for activists and journalists in Serbia has deteriorated, citing alleged police abuse and restrictions on civil space.

The protests follow the ongoing public outcry for a transparent investigation into the Novi Sad disaster and broader demands for political change.