BELGRADE – Serbian students have reignited protests against government corruption by blocking the entrances to state-owned media buildings in Belgrade and Novi Sad. The demonstrations are part of a growing movement triggered by a recent construction tragedy that left 16 people dead, mostly students, in the city of Novi Sad. Protesters accuse the government and public media of corruption and censorship.
According to AFP, demonstrators on Monday night barricaded the headquarters and studios of Radio Television of Serbia (RTS) in Belgrade, as well as the offices of Radio Television of Vojvodina (RTV) in Novi Sad. Although police were present at the scene, they did not intervene.
Long-Term Protest Action Planned
The student-led protests were sparked by the collapse of a concrete shelter at a newly renovated train station in Novi Sad on November 1, 2024. The accident killed 16 people, igniting public outrage over alleged corruption in infrastructure projects and lack of governmental oversight.
Protest organizers criticized public broadcasters for ignoring their movement. “Public media work against the interests of citizens,” they wrote in a statement on Instagram. Demonstrators have set up tents in front of media buildings, pledging to maintain the blockade until their demands are met.
Corruption at the Core
Many in Serbia link the tragedy to deep-rooted corruption that affects daily life, public services, and infrastructure. In response to the protests, several officials, including Prime Minister Miloš Vučević, have stepped down. However, President Aleksandar Vučić has dismissed the demonstrations as foreign-influenced, labeling them a “threat to Serbia’s peace and stability.”
During a recent speech, Vučić described the protest movement as an “attack from abroad,” accusing participants of being funded by foreign intelligence agencies.
The student uprising marks one of the most significant civic mobilizations in Serbia in recent years. Protesters are demanding transparent investigations, resignations of responsible officials, and reforms in state media.
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