25 December 2024 , 13:42
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Hundreds march on state prosecutor’s office to demand justice after 15 people killed when renovated roof collapsed
Hundreds of university students have rallied in Belgrade to protest against the policies of Serbia’s president, Aleksandar Vučić, and his ruling Serbian Progressive party (SNS), which they blame for a railway disaster last month in which 15 people died.
The concrete awning of the recently renovated roof of the train station in the northern city of Novi Sad caved in on 1 November, killing 14 people and injuring three. One of the injured died later.
Students at universities in Belgrade and across Serbia have been protesting since, demanding the publication of documents relevant to the station renovation and the prosecution of those responsible for the disaster.
After a 15-minute silent vigil to commemorate the victims of the accident, students marched to the state prosecutor’s headquarters in Belgrade on Wednesday to deliver 1,000 identical letters of protest to the office of Zagorka Dolovac, the chief state prosecutor.
“Students demand that you fight for the law and justice, without any political or corrupt malpractices,” the letter said.
Students, opposition and civic groups blame Dolovac and prosecutors for the sluggish investigation into the disaster, something they deny.
Students carried banners depicting a bloodied hand, which they say symbolises the government’s responsibility for the awning collapse.
Opposition parties and civic groups have also taken to the streets, blaming the accident on shoddy construction resulting from corruption and nepotism.
The ruling coalition denies this and Vučić has said those responsible must be held to account.