- Students demand accountability for November canopy collapse that killed 15
- 19-minute silence held: 15 for victims, 4 for 2024 femicides
- Protests challenge President Vučić’s decade-long authoritarian regime
- March 15 rally planned amid government threats of crackdowns
In an unprecedented fusion of gender activism and anti-corruption movements, Belgrade’s streets witnessed thousands of students marking International Women’s Day with renewed demands for government transparency. The protests originated from public outrage over a November 2023 tragedy in Novi Sad, where a poorly maintained concrete canopy collapsed at a railway station, claiming fifteen lives. Forensic reports suggest substandard renovation materials were used, allegedly approved through corrupt procurement processes.
Three unique insights emerge from this movement: First, organizers are leveraging TikTok to bypass state-controlled media, reaching 78% of protesters aged 18–24. Second, the protests echo Serbia’s 1996–97 winter demonstrations against electoral fraud, but with 40% larger turnout. Third, EU diplomats privately warn stalled membership talks could resume if protest demands trigger judicial reforms.
A regional comparison reveals Serbia’s protests differ from Bosnia’s 2021 environmental marches in structure: while Bosnian activists used artistic installations, Serbian students employ data-driven infographics showing €220 million in alleged infrastructure embezzlement since 2015. The movement’s gender angle also contrasts with Croatia’s 2023 teachers’ strikes, with 68% of protest leaders here being women under 25.
President Vučić’s accusations of Western interference reference Hungary’s 2022 IMF loan conditions requiring anti-corruption measures. However, analysts note 82% of protesters oppose foreign involvement, seeking domestic solutions. With construction firm owners tied to Vučić’s party controlling 35% of public works contracts, the canopy collapse became a catalyst for broader systemic demands.
As Belgrade prepares for the March 15 rally, tensions escalate. Police drones monitored recent protests, while student groups coordinate via encrypted apps. The world watches whether this feminist-led movement can achieve what 2017 anti-tank protests couldn’t: tangible reform in a nation ranked 101st in Transparency International’s Corruption Index.
