Mass protests in Serbia: students block a highway in Belgrade.

Protests in Belgrade and other cities in Serbia have been ongoing for more than a month. They began after the tragedy in the city of Novi Sad in northern Serbia. On November 1, 15 people lost their lives due to the collapse of a canopy at the railway station.

Initially, students demanded a transparent investigation into the tragedy and accountability for those responsible. Supported by opposition activists and representatives of civil society, the students hold the authorities accountable, accusing them of corruption that led to the poor renovation of the station building. After the authorities, in the opinion of the protesters, failed to heed their demands, political requests began to emerge, particularly for the establishment of a transitional government to prepare for free early parliamentary elections. For many participants in the protests, the tragedy in Novi Sad confirmed their belief that the government and President Aleksandar Vučić are leading the country down the wrong path.

After a series of mass rallies last Friday, a general strike was organized, which involved educational institutions and around 200 companies across the country. Over the weekend, protests marched again in Belgrade and other cities. As of December, the operation of more than 50 faculties at four state universities and dozens of high schools has been disrupted.

President Vučić, on one hand, promises to listen to the demands of the protesters. Specifically, on Saturday he urged officials to publish all documents related to the renovation of the station – one of the students' demands. On the other hand, Vučić and his supporters accuse the demonstrators of collaborating with certain foreign forces to destabilize Serbia.

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