In Serbia, a former minister and five other individuals were apprehended following a tragic roof collapse that resulted in fatalities. - Former Serbian minister among six individuals apprehended following a rooftop collapse incident
The tragic roof collapse at the Novi Sad railway station on November 1, 2024, which claimed the lives of 16 people, has sparked a wave of protests across Serbia, highlighting deep-rooted corruption and negligence in public infrastructure projects.
The initial sorrow following the incident quickly gave way to student protests, demanding accountability for those responsible for the Novi Sad reconstruction project, for attacks on peaceful protesters, and for the suppression of dissent. These protests escalated into nationwide demonstrations, with many citizens supporting calls for rule of law, independent institutions, and an end to cronyism under the Vučić regime.
By mid-2025, at least 44 other incidents related to shoddy construction had been reported since the collapse, further highlighting systemic problems. The mounting pressure culminated in high-profile arrests on August 1, 2025, including a former minister and officials, on graft charges connected to the railway overhaul.
The timeline of events is as follows:
- November 1, 2024: The roof collapse at the Novi Sad railway station resulted in 16 deaths.
- November 2024 – Early 2025: Initial sorrow followed by student protests and demands for accountability.
- Throughout 2025: Continued protests across Serbia exposing widespread construction negligence.
- August 1, 2025: Arrests of ex-minister and officials on corruption charges related to the railway overhaul.
The ongoing investigations into the roof collapse incident have focused heavily on allegations of corruption. Since February, the anti-corruption prosecutor's office has also been investigating allegations of corruption related to the incident. The former ministers and other suspects are accused of helping a Chinese company involved in the renovations to gain an "illegal financial advantage" of over $18 million (€15.6 million). Ex-Minister Goran Vesic, who resigned after the incident, is among those arrested in connection with the roof collapse.
Nine more suspects, including Goran Vesic, are still at large, according to the prosecutor's office. Goran Vesic was hospitalized and underwent surgery on Friday, according to Serbian news portal nova.rs. The investigation into the roof collapse is ongoing.
The railways station canopy collapse in Novi Sad, Serbia, sparked the most intense wave of protests in recent Serbian history. These protests have been ongoing since the roof collapse, with the protests in Novi Sad, Serbia, leading to the resignation of the previous prime minister, Milos Vucevic. President Aleksandar Vucic has repeatedly described the protests as being directed from abroad.
These events illustrate how the tragedy at the Novi Sad railway station has exposed deep-rooted corruption and negligence in public infrastructure projects in Serbia, fueling sustained civic activism and political action.
Politics in Serbia has been significantly impacted by the aftermath of the Novi Sad railway station roof collapse, with general news dominating headlines and public discourse. The incident, which occurred on November 1, 2024, and led to 16 fatalities, has sparked a wave of crime and justice investigations, focusing on allegations of corruption and negligence in public infrastructure projects. This has resulted in continuous protests and demands for accountability and rule of law.
