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4w ago

Serbian Unions and Students Unite in Escalating Anti-Corruption Movement

Protesters in Belgrade demand labor law reforms and accountability for a deadly infrastructure failure as investigations stall six months after the Novi Sad tragedy.

Military veterans protest in front of the government building, six months after the deadly train station tragedy that sparked mass demonstrations against corruption, in Belgrade, Serbia, Thursday, May 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
University students and people protest in front of the government building, six months after the deadly train station tragedy that sparked mass demonstrations against corruption, in Belgrade, Serbia, Thursday, May 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
University students and people protest in front of the government building, six months after the deadly train station tragedy that sparked mass demonstrations against corruption, in Belgrade, Serbia, Thursday, May 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
University students and people protest in front of the government building, six months after the deadly train station tragedy that sparked mass demonstrations against corruption, in Belgrade, Serbia, Thursday, May 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)

Overview

  • Thousands gathered in Belgrade on May 1 as Serbia's five largest trade unions joined student-led protests for the first time, marking a new phase in the anti-corruption movement.
  • Protesters are calling for reforms to labor and strike laws, prosecution of officials linked to the Novi Sad railway station collapse, and broader systemic changes.
  • The canopy collapse in Novi Sad, which killed 16 people last November, has been widely attributed to corruption and substandard oversight during renovations by Chinese state contractors.
  • Investigations into the tragedy and alleged misuse of EU funds have made limited progress, with charges against 13 individuals returned for further review by Serbian courts.
  • President Aleksandar Vucic has dismissed the protests as a Western-backed attempt to undermine his government, while demonstrators continue to face police crackdowns and political resistance.