The UN on Wednesday (5/11) condemned the lack of legal action in Serbia a year after the deadly collapse of the shelter at the Novi Sad railway station, which killed 16 people and sparked a wave of mass protests.

Make sure justice is done

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, called for renewed efforts to ensure the delivery of justice, stressing the importance of restoring public confidence in institutions and respect for the rule of law in Serbia.

“No serious process has been launched to uncover the truth and deliver justice after the tragedy in Novi Sad. This is despite the unceasing demands of tens of thousands of people who took to the streets to demand justice,” Turk said in a statement.

“Worse still, numerous allegations of violent attacks and arbitrary arrests of peaceful protesters and journalists during the protests have not been investigated and remain unpunished. On the contrary, such incidents continue to occur,” he added.

On Saturday, more than 100,000 Serbs commemorated the first anniversary of the Novi Sad tragedy that shook the entire country.

Symbol of corruption

The concrete roof of the railway station collapsed on November 1, 2024, a few months after its renovation. For opponents of right-wing nationalist President Aleksandar Vucic, the accident has become a symbol of the corruption they say plagues public works across the country.

The protests, which have been largely peaceful over the past year, were marred this summer by violence between supporters of the president and protesters, hundreds of whom were arrested.

Turk called for swift, transparent, independent and effective investigations, as legal proceedings against those allegedly responsible have been delayed.

He also called for similar investigations into allegations of arbitrary arrests and detentions, as well as the unnecessary or disproportionate use of force during demonstrations.

“The full exercise of rights to freedom of expression and freedom to ‘assemble’ peacefully is fundamental to the proper functioning of a democratic society,” the High Commissioner stressed, noting the importance of the independence of the judiciary, “the only way to maintain public confidence in the rule of law.”

In its latest progress report, published yesterday, Tuesday, regarding Serbia’s EU accession process, the European Commission recommended, among other things, “reducing political interference in the judiciary and the prosecution”.