Serbia Indicts Former Minister and 12 Others Over Train Station Tragedy

Serbian prosecutors filed an updated indictment on Tuesday against 13 individuals, including a former minister, over a fatal railway station roof collapse that has ignited widespread anti-government protests.

Charges and Defendants

• The indictment targets former construction minister Goran Vesic and 12 others, accusing them of serious crimes against public safety.
• The collapse at Novi Sad station last November claimed 16 lives and became a symbol of entrenched corruption in the country.

• The prosecutor’s office requested that the Higher Court in Novi Sad order custody for all defendants.

Background and Protests

The newly renovated station’s roof collapse triggered near-daily protests in Novi Sad, Serbia’s second-largest city.

• Initial demands: Transparent investigation into the tragedy.
• Escalation: Protesters began calling for early elections due to systemic corruption.

Legal Proceedings

• An initial indictment was filed in December, but the Higher Court returned it in April, requesting additional information.
• Following the court’s decision, some accused were released or placed under house arrest.
• Prosecutors completed a supplementary investigation, adhering to the court’s request.

Parallel Investigations

• A special prosecutor in Belgrade, focusing on organised crime and corruption, is leading a separate investigation.
• This investigation covers 13 individuals, including Vesic and Momirovic, both former heads of the Construction Ministry.
• In March, the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) opened a third, independent investigation into the possible misuse of EU funds for the station’s reconstruction.

The indictment and ongoing investigations underscore Serbia’s heightened scrutiny of government corruption and public safety failures, while protests continue to shape the political landscape.