On a peaceful march in the Serbian capital Belgrade on 22nd November, thousands of anti-government protesters, headed by students, demanded justice for those involved in the deaths of 16 people when a roof fell on them at a railway station and when an attack on a student protest was made against them a year ago.

The November 1, 2024, Novi Sad station disaster in the northern city of Novi Sad brought about a highly peaceful, nationwide protest movement by university students and professors that has rocked populist President Aleksandar Vucic, who has been in power for 13 years.

Over 30 members of the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), who are loyal to Vucic, including local officials, engaged in a clash last year with students of the Faculty of Drama Arts who had blocked an intersection in Belgrade to commemorate the Novi Sad disaster.

They had four who pleaded guilty to assault. According to the students, they want criminal responsibility to be allocated to every attacker identified and an investigation into who planned the attack.

Protesters were also seeking to vote out Vucic and his party by having a snap election.

“They (SNS) had too long served in power… Nobody will quit it,” said Vesna Petovic, 50, a demonstrator in Belgrade.

A number of mass protests throughout the summer in Belgrade and around other parts of Serbia, which is seeking to become a member of the EU, were dispersed by the police with stun grenades and tear gas.

Rights watchdogs and protesters accused the police of applying excessive force. Officials reported protesters storming the ruling party and its supporters’ offices.