On 1 November, a canopy collapse at the Novi Sad railway station claimed 15 lives, triggering tensions and one of the largest protests in recent years in Northern Serbia. The station was renovated as part of a Chinese-led project, completed in July 2024. The tensions led to violence in protests—marked by arrests, including those of opposition members, and in Parliament, where MPs had physical clashes after the opposition was denied a debate on accountability. The Higher Public Prosecutor’s Office in Novi Sad announced an investigation into public officials and individuals involved in the construction. The public has expressed concerns that the probe did not extend to financial irregularities or corruption, particularly involving the local subcontractor company, which has previously been awarded major government projects. Two ministers and the acting director of railway infrastructure resigned. It will be important to watch how the ongoing investigation will be handled in terms of transparency and accountability, especially given the high distrust of citizens in judiciary. 

Sources: Balkan Insight (1), Balkan Insight (2), Danas, Nedeljne informativne novine (NIN), Radar, Higher Public Prosecutor’s Office in Novi Sad, International Republican Institute 

Following around 50 protests since June, a mass demonstration against lithium mining on 10 August drew around 30,000 participants, ending with the blockade of two train stations and several arrests. Three activists were handed what were deemed harsh penalties by legal experts—one receiving 40 days of detention and two others 30 days—for “disturbing public order,” though the ruling was overturned for all of them on appeal on 13 August. The protest targeted a plan to open a lithium mine by the Australian-British consortium Rio Tinto, with activists urging a law to permanently ban lithium mining. Despite the project's potential economic benefits, citizens fear it will pollute land and water and disrupt local communities. The project, initially cancelled in 2022 after mass protests, was revived in July without proper public or civil society consultation when German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and European Commission Vice President Maroš Šefčovič secured deals for EU carmakers to access Serbian lithium. Government officials dismissed the protest as politically motivated.

Sources: Danas, Politico (1), Politico (2), Reuters, European Western Balkans

On 27 June, Minister of Interior Ivica Dačić announced the ban of the ‘Mirëdita, Dobar Dan!’ cultural exchange festival, citing security concerns just hours before it was set to begin. Organized by the Youth Initiative for Human Rights in Belgrade, the festival aims to promote regional cooperation and peace-building. Despite controversy over recognizing Kosovo's independence and calls for cancellation by top Serbian officials, the festival has been held annually since 2014, with growing attendance each year. About 50 men blocked the festival entrance, vowing not to leave until it was cancelled. Organizers and journalists from Kosovo were held by police for hours and were told to return to Kosovo. Civil society and journalists accused authorities of creating a hostile environment, and Civil Rights Defenders called the ban a severe infringement on freedom of expression and assembly.

Sources: Nedeljne informativne novine (1), Nedeljne informativne novine (2), Balkan Insight, Al Jazeera Balkans, Civil Rights Defenders, Koha, Kosovo Online

Opposition politician Nikola Sandulović was taken by the Serbian Security Information Agency (BIA) on 3 January and was arrested on 4 January on suspicion of “inciting racial, national and religious hatred” after publishing a video in which he apologized for war crimes committed by Serbs in Kosovo. Sandulović claims that while in BIA custody, he was beaten and tortured by a group of men, including Milan Radoičić and three others who had been involved in the EU-labeled terrorist attack in Banjska, Kosovo in September. Radoičić has been taking refuge in Serbia despite an Interpol arrest warrant. Sandulović reportedly suffered severe injuries and was paralysed on one side of his body. Aleksandar Vulin, the US-sanctioned former intelligence chief of Serbia, confirmed that he ordered the detention but said that no violence was used. On 15 January, Þórhildur Sunna Ævarsdóttir, Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe’s (PACE) rapporteur on political prisoners, called on Serbian authorities to carry out an independent investigation of the allegations. Shortly after, Sandulović was released.

Sources: PACE, Euractiv (1), Euractiv (2), The Guardian, bne IntelliNews, Radio Television of Serbia, Politika, Balkan Insight