Serbian students commemorate Novi Sad tragedy and dispute Jelena Pavlović's speaker role

On July 1, 2026, students and citizens gathered in Niš and Novi Sad to mark 20 months since a canopy collapsed at the Novi Sad railway station, killing 16 people. The silent procession included a 16‑minute pause and a speech by a philosophy student emphasizing remembrance and responsibility.

Separately, a controversy arose within the same student protest movement after parliamentarian Jelena Pavlović was selected as a speaker for a Vidovdan gathering. Green‑Left Front MP Rastislav Dinić criticized the students' justification, questioning the criteria for choosing speakers and saying Pavlović's appointment was inadequate. Students defended the choice, noting her past support for their cause and her independent status.

Both events highlight ongoing student activism in Serbia, ranging from memorials for past tragedies to disputes over political representation.