Pictures: Tens of thousands demonstrate in the capital against the Serbian president

Tens of thousands stood in a main square in the Serbian capital on Sunday to participate in a massive demonstration against populist President Aleksandar Vucic and his government.
Student unions and farmer unions called for the demonstration, in Belgrade’s Slavija Square, which is one of the largest demonstrations in recent years.

Demonstrations of the Serbian people

This demonstration is part of a broader movement demanding accountability for the incident of the collapse of a cement canopy at a railway station in the north of the country, on the first of last November.
The incident resulted in the deaths of 15 people, and smaller demonstrations were also held in the cities of Nis and Kragujevac.

The demonstration in Belgrade began with a 15-minute silence to mourn the victims, after which chants of “Your hands are stained with blood” were heard.

Vucic trial

Many in Serbia point to widespread corruption and sloppy renovations in the railway station building in the city of Novi Sad, which was renewed twice in recent years as part of huge questionable projects involving Chinese government companies.
The protesters are demanding that Vucic and those responsible for the accident be tried, and in a show of confidence, the Serbian President, on Sunday, opened a section of a newly built highway in central Serbia.

Accusations of seizing power

Vucic said that he would not back down in the face of opposition demands to form a transitional government, and accused his opponents of using students in an attempt to seize power.
Vucic added, “We will defeat them again. They (the opposition) do not know what to do except use other people’s children.”
Last month, 11 people were arrested in connection with a roof collapse at a train station early this month in the northern city of Novi Sad.

Roof collapse at a train station

At that time, 15 people were killed and two people were seriously injured, while the Novi Sad Public Prosecutor’s Office said in a statement that the suspects face charges of committing criminal acts against public security, causing public danger, and carrying out construction work that violates specifications.
Serbian media also reported at the time that Construction Minister Goran Vesic, who resigned after the incident, was among those detained.