Students spend the night near the blocked bridge in Novi Sad

2025-02-02 14:28:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

Hundreds of students in Serbia, supported by other citizens, have spent the night near the Liberty Bridge in Novi Sad, as part of a 24-hour blockade. The blockade began on February 1, the quarter after the incident in the city, where 15 people died, as a result of the collapse of a concrete shelter at the city's railway station.

The students believe the incident is a result of government corruption in a major infrastructure project with a Chinese state-owned company.

At the start of the protest on February 1, protesters blocked two other Novi Sad bridges, Varadin and ?e?el, for three hours.

On Saturday evening, prominent public and cultural figures spoke to the protesters. The protesters stayed close to the bridge, fearing it could become overloaded. The 24-hour blockade of the Freedom Bridge is expected to end at 3 p.m. on Sunday, but could be extended if the protesters so agree.

Students spend the night near the blocked bridge in Novi Sad

Citizens prepare food for students

The students in Novi Sad were joined by their colleagues from Belgrade, who walked for two days from the capital. Citizens from other regions of Serbia also participated in the protest.

Since the November 1 incident in Serbia, thousands of people have regularly protested in the streets.

Students spend the night near the blocked bridge in Novi Sad

The ongoing protests have resulted in the resignation of Serbian Prime Minister Miloš Vu?evi? earlier this week, and a slew of concessions made by the populist government, which is trying to calm the resistance.

However, the students have insisted that they will continue the protest until their demands are met.

The students' demands for an end to the blockades include the publication of full documentation for the reconstruction of the Novi Sad railway station, to determine responsibility for the accident of November 1, 2024.

Students spend the night near the blocked bridge in Novi Sad

They also demand that the attackers of demonstrators across Serbia, during the protests that followed the accident, be identified and face criminal responsibility.

The demands also include the release of activists arrested during the protests, the suspension of criminal proceedings against them, and an increase in the budget for universities.

The authorities, on the other hand, claim to have met all the requirements. /REL