Serbian students step up crusade against corruption

Serbian students spend the night outside during protests in Novi Sad on Saturday.
| Photo Credit: AFP

Wrapped in blankets and huddled around fires at makeshift camps, Serbian students braved subzero temperatures in Novi Sad as they spent the night outside after a mass rally against corruption brought tens of thousands to the streets.

“It’s cold, but we’ve gotten used to it. We’ve been sleeping at the university for over two months,” Andrea Laco, a student at the Faculty of Technology in Novi Sad, said. “Grief united us, and we’re here to fight for justice,” she added.

After walking for two days from Belgrade, demonstrators converged on Novi Sad ahead of a rally on Saturday to mark three months since a train station roof in the city collapsed and killed 15 people. The station had recently been renovated and the disaster brought to the surface long-standing anger in Serbia over corruption and the alleged lack of oversight in construction projects backed by the government.

The deaths sparked the largest protest movement the Balkan country has seen in decades, with students taking a leading role.

Protests have been held almost daily across the country — piling increasing pressure on the government. While the protests led to resignations of the Prime Minister and other high ranking officials, including Novi Sad’s Mayor, the protesters feel their demand of greater transparency is not being met and are ready to carry on.

Sitting on a mat wrapped in a blanket, medical student Dusan Tasic said he had no problem sleeping on the streets and would continue if needed. “Our demands haven’t been met,” he told AFP. “I’ll stay here as long as it takes.”