Protests Against Corruption in Serbia: A Review of Events and Institutional Response
Protests Against Corruption in Serbia: A Review of Events and Institutional Response

Author(s): Not Specified Author
Subject(s): Politics / Political Sciences, Politics, Civil Society, Governance, Communication studies, Corruption - Transparency - Anti-Corruption
Published by: Građanske inicijative
Keywords: Corruption; Protests; Student Movement; Canopy Collapse
Summary/Abstract: On November 1, 2024, a canopy at the recently reconstructed Railway Station in Novi Sad, Serbia’s second-largest city, collapsed, resulting in the deaths of 16 people. Protests erupted across Serbia in response, with citizens demanding that the responsible authorities find and punish those accountable for the tragedy. During one such protest, students from the Faculty of Dramatic Arts in Belgrade, who were peacefully paying their respects to the victims, were attacked. It was revealed that the attackers were members of the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) and officials from local bodies and state-owned enterprises. This attack on students sparked the beginning of student blockades at universities nationwide, gaining broad support from various sectors of society, including teachers, workers, farmers, lawyers, artists, and others. Young people initiated a wave of protests against corruption and for the rule of law. Their demands are clear: they call for independent and accountable institutions that are expected to simply do their jobs and punish those responsible for the deaths of 16 people, as well as those who attack students and citizens engaged in peaceful protests. The student blockades began on November 22, 2024, and in the following months, numerous attacks and institutional pressures were applied on the students and their supporters. The repressive mechanisms employed by the government have proven ineffective, as students continue to courageously demand the fulfillment of their demands. The report in front of you is an overview of the events from November 1, 2024 to March 24, 2025, with a special focus on all types of pressure, attacks and targeting to which students and protesting citizens are exposed by representatives of the authorities and state institutions. It is not a comprehensive account of the numerous events that have taken place since the fall of the canopy, but rather an overview of the violations of the basic freedoms of citizens (freedom of expression, assembly and association) that marked the previous period. As the protests continue until student demands are met, the report will be updated regularly.

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