'Corruption Kills': one year on from Novi Sad, Padua students call for accountability.

 PADUA – On Saturday, students assembled in Padua’s Palazzo Bo to mark one year since the Novi Sad tragedy in Northern Serbia. In an international campaign for recognition and accountability, this is just one amongst several silent protests organised by an informal network of diaspora citizens in several major Italian cities. 

 The tragedy itself took place in Nov. 2024, when a concrete canopy at a railway station in the city of Novi Sad collapsed, claiming the lives of 16 victims aged between 6-74. According to a statement released by the Railway Infrastructure of Serbia, the station itself had undergone recent renovations to improve structural integrity and modernise the building. Unfortunately, however, contractors had failed to consider the condition of the rapidly deteriorating canopy, constructed in 1964. 

 In response to the tragedy, responsibility for the collapse was attributed to poor construction and inadequate oversight, as the bilateral agreement between the state and private contractors failed to abide by EU procurement and transparency guidelines.

 In Sept. 2024, the Higher Public Prosecutor’s Office in Novi Sad formally indicted 13 officials and arrested 11 believed to be responsible for the collapse, including former Minister of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure, Goran Vesić. Alongside Vesić, his deputy and several engineers and supervisors found to be involved in the reconstruction project were also indicted. The charges presented included “serious offences against general safety” in relation to fundamental failures in ensuring the permitting, maintenance and design of the structure with public safety in mind. 

  At present, however, there have been no convictions, as the case remains at a pre-trial stage. In April 2024, the Higher Court in Novi Sad returned the indictment to prosecutors for further investigation, citing a lack of evidence and the need for additional clarifications. Further complicating matters, the Prosecutor’s office announced in June that it was unable to file the final indictment needed for trial due to procedural motions and delays in evidence collection. Opposition leaders, however, have branded this move as clear evidence of institutional corruption and “stalling”, intensifying existing calls for political and judicial reform.

 Since the collapse, there has been an unprecedented mobilisation in support of comprehensive reform, as the Serbian public continues to demand greater accountability and transparency within the investigation. Although Serbia has been ranked 105 out of 180 counties on the latest Global Corruptions Perceptions Index, this is an anti-corruption movement which transcends political and international borders.

 Across the Balkans, tens of thousands of demonstrators have come together in silent protests in hundreds of locations, as critics blame several recent civilian tragedies on poor infrastructure and rampant institutional corruption. Throughout the region, protestors continue to march under the banner of a blood-red hand, calling for “systemic change” with the slogan “Corruption Kills."

 As demonstrations persist, ministers warn that systemic corruption could continue to undermine Serbia’s path to European Union membership. For the public and families affected by the collapse, the focus remains firmly on ensuring justice for those who died. In a sustained effort for dignity, recognition and accountability, the protests continue. 

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