Tens of thousands of people gathered in the southern Serbian city of Niš on March 1 to mark the fourth month since a deadly railway station disaster, in what has become the largest and most significant challenge to President Aleksandar Vucic’s decade-long rule.

The evening before the rally, the sky above Niš was illuminated by fireworks and flares as thousands of students from across the country arrived on foot and  bicycle, some having trekked hundreds of miles to join the protest.

The gathering on March 1, held to commemorate the victims of the Novi Sad railway station disaster, was the latest protest in a movement that has steadily grown in scope since November 2024, calling for accountability for the collapse and an end to rampant corruption.

The Novi Sad disaster, which occurred when a newly renovated canopy roof collapsed, killing 15 people, became a powerful symbol of public dissatisfaction with what many see as the government's failure to ensure accountability and prevent such tragedies.

On the evening of February 28, students from around the country arrived in Niš, met by cheering villagers who offered food and drink along the way. The atmosphere in the city was also charged with solidarity, as students were joined by local residents, motorcyclists and workers, all of whom gathered for a weekend of music, speeches and festivities.

The following day, students unveiled the "Student Edict" in Niš's central square. The document, adopted before a crowd of thousands, called for greater freedom, justice and dignity for all citizens of Serbia. The edict, which affirmed support for universal values, was a clear call for a shift in Serbia's political landscape, but one without much ideological clarity.

Vučić, in a speech earlier on February 28, sought to downplay the protests, describing them as part of a “Western-orchestrated” effort to destabilise his government. "Serbia has been attacked," he declared. "Your coloured revolution is over. There will be no revolution."

The president's remarks reflect his ongoing narrative that the protests are part of a foreign-backed coup, a message echoed by state-aligned media outlets, including Politika. “Who wants to make Bangladesh out of Serbia?” the headline read, comparing the protests in Serbia to those in Bangladesh last year, suggesting that the goal was to bring down the Serbian government in a similar fashion. 

Despite efforts to undermine the movement, the protests continue to gain momentum. What began with student blockades of university classes in November 2024 has since grown to include teachers, farmers and workers. All are united by a single demand: an end to the government corruption that many blame for the death of the 15 people in Novi Sad, as well as for the broader failures of the state.

In response to the unrest, Vucic has dismissed several high-ranking ministers and initiated an anti-corruption campaign in an attempt to placate the protesters. Yet critics argue that these actions have been little more than window dressing, aimed at deflecting blame without addressing the underlying issues.

While Prime Minister Milos Vucevic and two other high-ranking ministers resigned following the protests, the political system remains intact. Vucic faces no serious political challenger, and the protests have not coalesced around a clear leader or political platform. In fact, they have been careful not to associate themselves with the opposition. This lack of direction raises questions about the future of the movement.

As bne IntelliNews has argued, the absence of a unifying political agenda leaves the protests in limbo, despite their broad base of support. The growing mobilisation of civil society is a powerful reminder of public frustration with a government many see as corrupt and unaccountable. However, without a viable political alternative, the movement may struggle to transform its widespread discontent into lasting political change.

For now, the protests continue to serve as a symbol of Serbia’s reawakened civil society. Whether they will lead to meaningful reform or remain a temporary expression of frustration remains to be seen.