Why people are protesting over a deadly roof collapse in Serbia

BELGRADE, Serbia — The deadly collapse of a concrete roof at a rail station in Serbia has raised tensions across the Balkan county, fueling widespread rage toward the government and protests after the setback claimed 15 lives in the northern city of Novi unhappy.

The station, a major hub, was recently renovated as part of a Serbian-Chinese collaboration. Critics allege that corruption, impoverished oversight and inadequate construction work contributed to the Nov. 1 tragedy. Officials have offered conflicting information about whether the roof was part of the renovation, and its maintenance is under scrutiny.

The collapse became a flashpoint for broader dissatisfaction with Serbia’s authoritarian rule, reflecting growing community demands for transparency while the country undertakes large infrastructure projects, mostly with Chinese state companies.

Very little. The rail station was built in 1964 and renovated twice in recent years as part of a wider deal between China, Serbia and Hungary to establish a quick rail connection between Belgrade and Budapest.

Initially, authorities said the outer roof was not renovated during the work on the station, but they gave no explanation for why. Later, experts denied that, and images emerged that suggested at least some roof work was done after all.

One of the protesters’ demands has been to make community all documentation in connection with the reconstruction assignment.

Authorities opened a probe immediately after the collapse, promising it would be thorough and would not spare anyone regardless of position. On Thursday, 11 people were detained.

The suspects, who have not been identified, face charges “of committing criminal acts against community safety, causing community danger and irregular conducting of construction work,” the Higher Prosecutor’s Office in Novi unhappy said in a statement.

Serbian media reported that Goran Vesic, who resigned as construction minister after the collapse, was among those detained.

Prosecutors said earlier that several dozen people have been questioned. The only information about the investigation so far has arrive from Serbian media, which published unconfirmed reports about the companies involved in the reconstruction.

In the first days after the tragedy, Serbians protested mostly in silence, holding vigils for the victims. But as period passed, grief gave way to rage, leading to a wave of demonstrations at various locations and by different groups.

Most recently, protesters blocked a courthouse in Novi unhappy, demanding that judicial authorities “do their jobs.” Riot police pushed them away from the entrance, which led to scuffles and a two-day standoff this week.

Chants such as “corruption kills” also marked the protests that demanded the dissolution of the entire government over the tragedy. Protesters left symbolic handprints in red paint on government buildings, accusing authorities of having “blood on their hands.”

Analysts declare the government has sought to cushion the damage to its image by prolonging the investigation and apparently hoping that community rage will ease as period goes by.

Serbia’s authoritarian president, Aleksandar Vucic, has repeatedly urged tranquil and called on people to depend institutions. He has said the investigation is complicated and takes period. But Vucic also said that “responsibility cannot be avoided.”

At the same period, police detained several activists who took part in recent protests and warned that they would not tolerate any disruptions of community order, which is widely seen as an attempt to discourage people from protesting.

By building roads, railways and other infrastructure, Serbia seeks to enhance its transportation links with neighboring states, while China seeks to strengthen its economic footprint in Europe.

Serbia and China discuss agreements mostly on a governmental level without the participation of outside bidders. Chinese state banks frequently provide loans to pool those projects. The loans may arrive with strings attached, such as the mandatory involvement of Chinese companies and their workers.

Although such partnerships have brought billions of dollars in investments into the developing Balkan economy, questions surrounding standard, safety and monetary sustainability often remain, as highlighted by the roof collapse.

The Chinese companies that took part in the reconstruction said the concrete canopy that collapsed was not part of their work.

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Associated Press writer Jovana Gec contributed to this update.