Instead of partying, thousands have turned New Year's celebrations into anti-government protests in Serbia

BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) – Instead of a traditional New Year's Eve party, tens of thousands of protesters led by university students rallied through the night in Belgrade and other Serbian cities to demand political reform and justice in the Balkan country.

Demonstrators have been demonstrating continuously following the tragic collapse of a concrete platform in the northern part of the city of Novi Sad at the central train station of Novi Sad on November 1, which resulted in the death of 15 people.

The crisis has been caused by the corruption and poor construction practices of the Serbian leadership, leading to widespread public outcry and demands for accountability.

Students from different universities in Belgrade organized a demonstration under the slogan “No New Year — You still owe the Old.”

The raucous crowd, chanting “We Want Justice,” fell silent at 11:52 p.m. for 15 minutes to honor the victims of the Novi Sad tragedy. Many carried placards with red writing, which has become a symbol of anti-government protests, telling the authorities that they have blood on their hands.

Earlier, they marched past a government-sponsored concert where the crowd danced to folk music. The police who were guarding the place where the concert was held then installed a steel fence while directing the protesting crowd to other nearby streets to avoid contact between the two groups.

Anti-government protesters stressed that, despite the holiday season, their commitment to justice remains unchanged. The student-led movement has drawn support from various social groups, including academics, farmers and actors, reflecting widespread dissatisfaction with the leadership of independent President Aleksandar Vucic.

Thousands of people also gathered in Novi Sad and the southern city of Nis in similar rallies led by university students in those cities.

In Belgrade, state-sponsored concerts and other New Year celebrations were organized in the city center and at the newly built high-rise Belgrade Waterfront, which Vucic said was a project of his and investors from the United Arab Emirates.

Belgrade has become a favorite party destination for tourists on New Year's Eve with street parties and huge fireworks displays.

Crowds in Belgrade braved freezing weather and fog to join the students. The New Year's Eve protest comes a week after tens of thousands joined students in one of the biggest rallies in recent years in the Serbian capital.

Serbia's public prosecutor on Monday filed charges against 13 people, including a former minister, over the concrete bed collapse. Protesters say it is not enough as the case does not include possible corruption cases during the renovation of the Novi Sad train station which was part of a wider agreement with Chinese companies.

Earlier, Vucic told pro-government Prva TV that all the students' demands have been met.

“I was always ready to talk, I ask them now but they don't talk to me, they don't have arguments, the prosecutors have achieved the last thing they wanted, all the documents they wanted have been published and nothing has happened,” Vucic. he said, adding that street protests will not be overthrown.

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Associated Press writer Jovana Gec contributed to this report.