Mass protests in Serbia, sparked by the Nov. 1 tragedy at the railway station in Novi Sad, have been ongoing for several months. Demonstrators are no longer demanding a fair investigation into the deaths of 15 people; they are calling for a new government and president. The Insider spoke with several protesters to understand their perspectives.
“Every other day feels like a day of mourning”
For months, the streets of Novi Sad have witnessed the same scene: at exactly 11:52 a.m. — the time when, on Nov. 1, a concrete canopy collapsed at the railway station — the city comes to a standstill for 15 minutes of silence. The collapse claimed 15 lives, including that of a child.
The protests initially began within universities but soon spread across the country, uniting people beyond the academic community.
“We’re tired of being gaslighted,” says musician and DJ Marina Djordjevic, one of the protest participants. Living in Belgrade, she has attended mass demonstrations, including the Jan. 27 blockade of Autokomanda, when activists shut down the city's largest traffic interchange for 24 hours.
“For too long, we've watched incompetence and corruption erode our institutions to the point where human life has lost its value, and the rule of law has ceased to exist. The Novi Sad incident was just the tip of the iceberg. Every other day in Serbia feels like a day of mourning,” Marina continues. “We've come to see this as a symptom of the systemic collapse of our values.”
When asked whether people in her circle supported the protests, Djordjevic is unequivocal: she has not met a single friend or acquaintance who opposes them.
“The ruling regime keeps making more ridiculous mistakes”
Speaking with The Insider, Miloš (name changed), a student at a private university, explains that in a country where the ruling party’s influence extends into almost every aspect of life, the protests have become one of the most significant events of recent years.
“As a student at a private institution that, unfortunately, hasn’t joined the blockade yet, I’m amazed by the support my colleagues at public universities are receiving. Watching them effectively toy with the ruling party and leave it confused gives me hope that the situation can at least slightly improve,” he says.
According to Miloš, the current protest is a large-scale but truly decentralized movement. “For the first time, people are supporting a cause, not personal ambitions,” he says. “Or rather, they are fighting for collective goals that will benefit everyone in the long run.”
Another student, Petar, from a public university, believes the number of protest participants will only grow: “None of the core demands have been met, so our top priority now is to ensure they are fulfilled.”
“I personally believe this is a just cause. The people protesting today are fighting for justice. I hope this movement finally changes Serbia for the better and shows corrupt officials that corruption is not worth it,” Petar adds.
He describes the protests as “a massive festival”: “There are huge crowds at the rallies. Some bring food, drinks, and tents, while others play football and basketball.”
Miloš also believes the protests won’t die down anytime soon: “They are only gaining momentum — every day, the ruling regime keeps making increasingly more ridiculous mistakes, and each one triggers a strong reaction. The students' demands are clear and concise, and they must be firmly upheld. Right now, the cult of personality seems to be cracking at last.”
“People are willing to protest for an entire year”
Initially, the student movement had four main demands:
- The release of documents regarding the reconstruction of Novi Sad railway station
- The dropping of charges against detained protesters
- The prosecution of those who attacked peaceful demonstrators
- Increased university funding
Following the Jan. 27 Autokomanda blockade, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić announced that these demands had been met. However, protest participants were not convinced. Speaking with The Insider, political analyst Aleksandar Djokic previously noted that students would continue protesting because “the regime simply cannot fulfill their demands in good faith.”
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Aleksa Stanković (@a.stankovic_ph)
In the wake of the Autokomanda blockade, Serbian Prime Minister Miloš Vučević and Novi Sad Mayor Milan Đurić resigned. The entire government followed suit, though Vučević stated it would continue functioning in a caretaker capacity until new elections are held.
However, Savo Manojlović, a leader of the protest movement “Kreni-Promeni” (“Start the Change”), dismissed these actions as inadequate. He declared that protesters would demand the formation of a transitional expert government to oversee new elections. According to Manojlović, this government should not include representatives from either the ruling or opposition parties — instead, ministerial candidates should be nominated by student assemblies and professors.
When asked by The Insider how the protests ought to change Serbia, student Tamara (name changed) responded that this was not the movement’s goal:
“This movement isn’t about radically transforming Serbia. That’s not the point. People are simply asking government agencies to do their jobs…After three months, people are only becoming more motivated to participate. Until now, these were purely student protests, but now they’ve evolved into a half-student, half-citizen movement.”
Like the other student interviewees, Tamara does not expect the protests to end anytime soon. In her view, they will only stop once all demands are met — and people are “willing to protest for an entire year” in support of the cause.
She describes Serbia as “practically unlivable,” citing environmental issues, high inflation, rising costs, an underfunded education sector, and the widespread presence of unregistered firearms left over from the Yugoslav Wars.
“How can you build a family in a country like this?” she asks. “That’s why people are willing to protest for a whole year. But if the government spent a year [fixing these issues], that would be too much for them. Some people are ready to sacrifice their time. And it’s not just a few — it’s the majority, because they simply can’t live like this anymore.”