Massive protests in Belgrade against Vuciqi

Tens of thousands gathered on Sunday at a central square in Belgrade, protesting Serbian President Aleksandar Vuciq and his government.

The protest, organised by students and farmers' trade unions, is part of a broader movement requiring responsibility for the collapse of the railway station's roof in the northern town of Novi Sad, which has 15 people behind it on November 1st.

The protest began with a 15-minute silence in honour of the victims and was followed by calls “you have blooded hands”. Smaller gatherings were also held in the towns of Nis and Kraguyevci.

Many in Serbia blame widespread corruption and poor work on the railway station building, which was renovated twice in recent years as part of suspicious projects involving Chinese state companies. Protesters demand that President Vuciq and those responsible for the roof collapse face justice.

So far, authorities have arrested 13 people for the event in Novi Sad, including a minister who was later released, adding public distrust about the investigation process.

Protests in recent weeks have challenged the power of President Vuciq, whose opponents accuse him of increasingly autocratic rule.

The Serbian leader formally urges membership in the European Union, but has faced charges of violating democratic freedoms and maintaining close ties with Russia and China.

He initially accused the students of starting protests, saying they are being paid by the West, while later claimed they met their demands, including publishing documentation about the work of renovation at the Novi Sad train station.

In a self-confidence show, the Serbian president inaugurated a part of a newly built highway in central Serbia on Sunday. During a ceremony, President Vuciq said he would not submit to the opposition's demands for a transitional government, and accused his opponents of exploiting students to take power without election.

There's nothing of this. We will defeat them again and more firmly than ever, and we will defeat them because we work for the people”, he said.

Opposition parties say a transitional government would prepare free and fair elections and could be a breakthrough from political tensions, as ruling populists are also accused of misuse of votes in the past.

In an effort to prevent protests, Serbia's government has extended the school winter vacation by launching them nearly a week earlier. In recent days more high school students have joined the movement.

Lessons at universities across the Balkan country have been suspended for weeks with students staying inside the faculty buildings. The occasional violence has swept through protests as pro-government groups tried to prevent protests.

A group of farmers said Sunday that police took a tractor from one of their leaders before the protest. In addition to farmers, Serbia's students have also received nationwide support from all walks of life, including their professors, media personalities, lawyers and prominent individuals.