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Serbia's student movement

Two years after a station canopy collapse in Novi Sad killed 16 people, the student-led movement it sparked has won Serbia's snap election, ending 14 years of rule by Aleksandar Vučić's party. What the students now demand, and what happens to the investigations.

OngoingLatest development: Nov 1, 2026Checked for news
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This story is in the daily briefingNov 3 · 7:16Briefing: France, Italy, Canada, Germany, Albania, India and Serbia

In 30 seconds

Swipe through. The full record, with every source, is below.

  1. 1/5 · What's happening

    • On November 1, 2024, a concrete canopy at the newly renovated railway station in Novi Sad, Serbia's second-largest city, collapsed at 11:52 a.m., killing 16 people, according to AP and AFP.

  2. 2/5 · Latest

    • Alleged Nov 1 Prosecutors order the 48-hour detention of Marko Kričak, head of the criminal police, and another senior officer on suspicion of abuse of office linked to a murder investigation, AP reports.

  3. 3/5 · What's confirmed

    • Confirmed Nov 1 Thousands mark two years since the Novi Sad railway station canopy collapse that killed 16 people, with a silent march in the rain, 16 wreaths and 16 minutes of silence, AP and AFP report; students say they now want those responsible to be punished.
    • Confirmed Oct 25 The Student List wins Serbia's snap election, defeating Vučić's Serbian Progressive Party after 14 years in power; Vučić concedes, saying the students will have between 135 and 140 seats and his party around 105.

  4. 4/5 · What's disputed

    Who is responsible for the collapse?

    • One accountStudents and many Serbians blame corruption and negligence in state infrastructure projects; an independent expert review found the renovation was rushed under political orders and alleged a "systematic degradation of construction standards".
    • Other accountThirteen people, including a former minister, have been charged, and the cases are not yet tried; corruption suspicions around the project's finances are under separate investigation.

  5. 5/5 · What's next

    • Nov 30 Formation of the new government and the choice of prime minister, the outcome of the Kričak detention, and whether the stalled canopy prosecution and the EU funds investigation move forward.

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How sure are we?
  • Confirmed2+ outlets
  • Reported1 outlet
  • Disputedsides disagree
  • Allegedone side's claim
  • Checkingbeing checked

Live updates

Newest first. Updated as news breaks.

Nov 1, 2026Alleged

Prosecutors order the 48-hour detention of Marko Kričak, head of the criminal police, and another senior…
Nov 1, 2026Confirmed

Thousands mark two years since the Novi Sad railway station canopy collapse that killed 16 people, with a…

Where things stand

On November 1, 2024, a concrete canopy at the newly renovated railway station in Novi Sad, Serbia's second-largest city, collapsed at 11:52 a.m., killing 16 people, according to AP and AFP. Many Serbians blamed corruption and negligence in state infrastructure projects, and university students led some of the country's largest protests since 2000. Thirteen people, including former construction minister Goran Vesić, were charged, but no trial has started, and the European Public Prosecutor's Office is investigating possible misuse of EU funds in the renovation.

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President Aleksandar Vučić called a snap parliamentary election in September 2026. In the October 25 vote, with turnout of nearly 70 percent, the highest since 1992, the Student List defeated his Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), which had governed for 14 years. Vučić conceded on election night; a CeSID-Ipsos projection gave the students 138 of 250 seats and the SNS 104, enough for the Student List to govern alone.

On November 1, 2026, thousands marked the second anniversary in Novi Sad with a silent march and 16 minutes of silence. The same day, prosecutors ordered the 48-hour detention of Marko Kričak, head of the criminal police, on suspicion of abuse of office; he denies accusations that he orchestrated violence against protesters. Students are demanding a review of the high-profile investigations, including the canopy case. Who will be prime minister has not been announced.

At a glance

From the collapse to the election

Filled marker: the latest major development. Hover or tap a marker for the event.

Projected seats, October 25 election (250-seat parliament)

Source: CeSID-Ipsos projection, as reported by Reuters. Final official results may differ.

Where it happened

Positions are approximate, plotted by latitude and longitude. This is not a map of borders.

Timeline

Show 3 earlier events

November 2024 to August 2026

The canopy collapse and two years of protest

  1. Nov 1
    Confirmed

    The concrete canopy of the renovated Novi Sad railway station collapses at 11:52 a.m., killing 16 people, 14 at the scene and two later, AP and AFP report. The renovation was part of a railway project with China and Hungary.

    Sources: AP (via WKMG) · Malay Mail (AFP)

    Confirmed by independent reports from AP and AFP. How we label

September to October 2026

The snap election

  1. Oct 25
    Confirmed

    The Student List wins Serbia's snap election, defeating Vučić's Serbian Progressive Party after 14 years in power; Vučić concedes, saying the students will have between 135 and 140 seats and his party around 105. A CeSID-Ipsos projection gives 138 seats to the students and 104 to the SNS, on turnout of nearly 70 percent, Reuters and Euronews report.

    Sources: Reuters (via ABC News) · Euronews

    Confirmed by independent reports from Reuters and Euronews. How we label

  2. Oct 25
    Reported

    The Student List, led by cardiologist Ilija Srdanović, fielded 250 largely unknown candidates, including university professors, actors and farmers; who will become prime minister is unclear, Reuters reports. "Tonight we celebrate victory. Tomorrow we build the future," said Belgrade University professor Radomir Sajčić, speaking for the students.

    Sources: Reuters (via ABC News)

    Reported: not yet confirmed by a second independent source. How we label

From October 27

After the victory: anniversary and investigations

  1. Nov 1
    Confirmed

    Thousands mark two years since the Novi Sad railway station canopy collapse that killed 16 people, with a silent march in the rain, 16 wreaths and 16 minutes of silence, AP and AFP report; students say they now want those responsible to be punished.

    Sources: AP (via WKMG) · Malay Mail (AFP)

    Confirmed by independent reports from AP and AFP. How we label

  2. Nov 1
    Alleged

    Prosecutors order the 48-hour detention of Marko Kričak, head of the criminal police, and another senior officer on suspicion of abuse of office linked to a murder investigation, AP reports. Kričak is accused of orchestrating violence during the student protests and of threatening a student; he denies the allegations.

    Sources: AP (via WKMG)

    Alleged: one side's claim, not independently confirmed. How we label

  3. Nov 30
    Checking

    Formation of the new government and the choice of prime minister, the outcome of the Kričak detention, and whether the stalled canopy prosecution and the EU funds investigation move forward. Still being checked.

    Sources: AP (via WKMG) · Reuters (via ABC News)

    Checking: expected or unresolved. We will update this when the outcome is known. How we label

Disputed claims

Both sides, with sources.

Who is responsible for the collapse?

Disputed

One account

Students and many Serbians blame corruption and negligence in state infrastructure projects; an independent expert review found the renovation was rushed under political orders and alleged a "systematic degradation of construction standards".

Sources: AP (via WKMG)

Other account

Thirteen people, including a former minister, have been charged, and the cases are not yet tried; corruption suspicions around the project's finances are under separate investigation.

Sources: Malay Mail (AFP) · AP (via WKMG)

Status: No court has ruled; no trial has started.

Accountability log

Arrests, bans, investigations and court cases.

DateActionByLabel
202513 people, including former minister Goran Vesić, charged with a serious crime against public safety; no trial yetProsecutorsConfirmed
OngoingInvestigation into possible misuse of EU funds in the station renovationEuropean Public Prosecutor's OfficeReported
Nov 1, 202648-hour detention of criminal police chief Marko Kričak and another senior officer on suspicion of abuse of officeProsecutorsReported

Places

Novi SadStation canopy collapse, Nov 1, 2024; anniversary march, Nov 1, 2026
BelgradeCapital; election night, Oct 25, 2026

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Only published reporting and publicly posted material. AI helps gather, check and organize it. Routine updates are published automatically once they pass our sourcing and fairness checks; anything sensitive is held back for a stricter editorial review. Our full standards.

Corrections

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Still being checked

  • Final official election results and seat allocation
  • Who will be prime minister, and when the new government will be formed
  • The outcome of Marko Kričak's detention and any charges
  • Whether the stalled canopy prosecution goes to trial

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Sources

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