Protests due to the collapse of Serbia railway station, the demand of government action | Corruption news

Students march in Serbia, seeking justice for the victims of railway stations and responsibility for corruption and nepotism.

Tens of thousands of students descended to the town of Kragujevac in central Serbia, the latest in a series of protests for the rock Balkan country after the deadly collapse of the roof of the train station last year.

Fifteen people were killed They were killed on November 1 when the roof crashed at the train station in Novi Sad, encouraging long -standing anger for corruption and nepotism.

Since then, mass demonstrations have grown into the largest protest movement of Serbia in the years and have been a threat to populist President Alexander with a Vucic decade of long attachment to power.

In almost freezing temperatures, students arrived in Kragujevac by bus from all over Serbia and even on foot, beat the drums, blowing whistles and holding the land flag.

The protesters planned to block one of the main city boulevards for 15 hours and 15 minutes, in honor of the victims of the train station. They also held 15 minutes of silence.

“We are here to fight for the better tomorrow, against corruption,” said 20-year-old Jovan, who was driving from the capital of Belgrade.

Student protesters enjoyed a wide support of the public in Serbia, many of whom blame the new sad tragedy on corruption and nepotism within the Vucica Government, the authorities state.

Verica, a 52-year-old professor from the city, joined a protest with her teenage daughter.

“For a long time I wasn’t so happy and proud,” she said. “I’m proud of their persistence.”

Students require a change

The movement led by students is a growing pressure on the Serbian government, encouraging several senior officials, including Prime Minister Milos Vucevic in late January.

Otherwise, 13 people were charged with a catastrophe of a train station. But that did a little bit to suffocate demonstrations.

From the accident, students organized daily protests, taking over university buildings and blocking highways and squares.

“We will stay here until the blockade is over,” said Djordje Vujovic, 22, a mechanical engineering student.

Students require authorities to publish documents relating to the roof collapse. They also want justice for those who are responsible, rejection of charges against protests and a higher budget for higher education.

Ivan and Ivana, 23-year-old mathematics students, were among a group of about 400 people who walked for four days to reach Kragujevac from Belgrade.

“We wanted to show people who live in the country to support them,” Ivan said. “We don’t just mean people in Belgrade.”