HAVE ALL STUDENT DEMANDS BEEN MET? Vučić promises legal action and pardons, Government publishes documentation…

Students across Serbia have been protesting for two months. Following blockades, they took to the streets with daily actions demanding their demands be met. Yesterday, President Aleksandar Vučić declared during a press conference that all student demands have been fulfilled through the government’s decision to release all documentation regarding the “Canopy Case,” initiate criminal proceedings against all attackers of students and citizens, and his promise to pardon all students and professors facing charges.

The protests began at the Faculty of Dramatic Arts (FDA), whose students and professors were attacked on November 22 while peacefully blocking traffic for 15 minutes in honor of the victims in Novi Sad, where a railway station canopy collapse on November 1, 2024, killed 15 people.

After police failed to act against the attackers, FDA students blocked their faculty on November 26. The protest soon spread to over 60 state faculties across Serbia.

FIRST DEMAND: Complete Documentation and Accountability for the Canopy Collapse

The students’ first demand was the release of all documentation related to the reconstruction of the Novi Sad Railway Station and identifying those responsible for the tragedy.

Civil Engineering students published a list of missing documents, available HERE.

“On the government’s website, 559 links and 13,042 documents have been published so far, with 925 more to follow,” Vučić stated. He added that for every document requested by the students, either it has been published or is in the process of being published.

He noted that some documents are not in the state’s possession because the canopy reconstruction was incomplete, and such documentation becomes available only after project completion.

He elaborated on specific points in the students’ demands, asserting that all feasible documentation has been provided, including versions of plans, contracts, inspection logs, and video evidence.

SECOND DEMAND: Identifying and Punishing Attackers

FDA students initially demanded the arrest and prosecution of individuals involved in the November 22 physical attack on students and professors outside their faculty in New Belgrade.

Media reports named the attackers as Milija Koldžić, Aleksandar Jokić, Dušan Kostić, Milena Aleksić, and Ivan Stanišić.

As the protests continued, students expanded their list of demands to include additional incidents and individuals responsible for violence against students and citizens during blockades in other locations.

In response, public prosecutors across Serbia initiated criminal proceedings against 37 individuals: 26 in Belgrade, 8 in Novi Sad, 2 in Šabac, and 1 in Vršac.

Vučić stated that all known cases have been addressed, with one remaining unresolved incident in New Belgrade, which he believes has been or will soon be resolved.

THIRD DEMAND: Dropping Charges Against Protesters

Students demanded charges against protesters detained during demonstrations about the canopy collapse be dropped. After pressure from opposition parties and activists, all detainees from the November 5 protest were released. However, students insist on dropping charges against all detained protesters.

Vučić stated that while some cases are ongoing, he is prepared to sign a pardon as early as Wednesday.

FOURTH DEMAND: Increased Budget for Universities

Students also demanded a 20% increase in the budget allocation for state universities. Vučić announced that this increase will be included in the 2025 budget, amounting to an additional 12.01 billion dinars on top of the planned 60.5 billion.

After detailing the fulfillment of all demands, Vučić claimed yesterday that every request has been met and that all requested documents have been provided.

Students have not yet responded to confirm or refute the president’s claims.