Outrage at the Novi Sad train station tragedy prompted Serbia to make its first arrests

After three weeks of protests demanding justice following a deadly train station collapse in Serbia’s second city, arrests have begun.

Prosecutors have ordered the questioning of 11 people in connection with the disaster at the newly renovated facility in Novi Sad.

Fifteen people died after a concrete and glass roof collapsed on them earlier this month.

Novi Sad has been in a state of extreme grief ever since.

More than 20,000 people took to the streets and squares in a protest – the largest seen in the city in decades.

Participants used the slogan “destroy corruption”.

They say opaque procurement procedures the government uses for infrastructure projects have enriched a few favored bidders while endangering public safety.

Serbia’s former construction minister was among those arrested.

Goran Vesic resigned days after the canopy collapse at the recently renovated station. But he denied all guilt.

“I cannot plead guilty to the deaths,” he said when announcing his resignation, “because I and the people who worked with me do not have the slightest responsibility for the tragedy that occurred.”

It appears prosecutors may be taking a different view. They said they were investigating “criminal acts against public safety.”

However, Vesic wanted to present himself as a cooperative witness, rather than a suspected perpetrator.

He posted on social networks: “I voluntarily responded to the call of the police officers with whom I went to Novi Sad and am ready to serve the investigative authorities.”

The arrests followed a televised address on Tuesday in which Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic warned of consequences for those responsible for the disaster.

“15 people died not because of their fault, but because someone didn’t do their job properly,” he said.

The problem for President Vucic is that he has shown himself to be very attached to the Novi Sad station. This is a key stop in the government’s flagship infrastructure project – the Belgrade to Budapest highway.

Vucic inaugurated the station in 2022 together with Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban.

“This is our path to modern Europe – our path to a better, progressive Serbia,” he told the BBC at the time.

Rebuilding of the station continued even after the inauguration – and this summer there was another opening ceremony.

There are heavy symbols surrounding this month’s train station disaster as well as the high cost in human lives.

Opposition parties in Serbia were quick to attack President Vucic and his Progressive Party government, blaming nepotism and a culture of impunity as the reasons behind the dome’s collapse.

“The people’s slogan is that we are all under the canopy called Serbia – it can fall wherever you are,” said Biljana Djordjevic, co-leader of the Green Left Front.

“The Progressives base their power on the claim that they are building the country – and this increases living standards. If people now feel unsafe about this then their policy is considered invalid.”

Protesters seemed unhappy with today’s arrests.

They have repeatedly demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Milos Vucevic – the former mayor of Novi Sad – and the current office holder, Milan Djuric.

If the judicial process can find answers quickly and reliably, that could calm the crowd.

Otherwise, President Vucic and the government may face difficulties.