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| Serbia's largest-ever rally sees 325,000 protest against government | Serbia's largest-ever rally sees 325,000 protest against government |
| (about 13 hours later) | |
| A specialised non-government organisation estimates between 275,000 and 325,000 attended the rally, making it the largest in Belgrade's history | A specialised non-government organisation estimates between 275,000 and 325,000 attended the rally, making it the largest in Belgrade's history |
| Hundreds of thousands of people descended on Serbia's capital on Saturday to protest over the deaths of 15 people in a railway station collapse. | Hundreds of thousands of people descended on Serbia's capital on Saturday to protest over the deaths of 15 people in a railway station collapse. |
| While the government put attendance at 107,000 across Belgrade, an independent monitor said 325,000 - if not more - had gathered, making it Serbia's largest protest ever. | While the government put attendance at 107,000 across Belgrade, an independent monitor said 325,000 - if not more - had gathered, making it Serbia's largest protest ever. |
| The Novi Sad collapse last November has galvanised anger towards the government and President Aleksandar Vucic. Demonstrators blame corruption and corner-cutting for the loss of life. | The Novi Sad collapse last November has galvanised anger towards the government and President Aleksandar Vucic. Demonstrators blame corruption and corner-cutting for the loss of life. |
| They believe the disaster reflects more than a decade of governing by the Progressive Party of Vucic - who closely associated himself with the station's recent renovation. | They believe the disaster reflects more than a decade of governing by the Progressive Party of Vucic - who closely associated himself with the station's recent renovation. |
| Despite multiple resignations - and Vucic's insistence that he is going nowhere - the protests have only continued to grow. | Despite multiple resignations - and Vucic's insistence that he is going nowhere - the protests have only continued to grow. |
| "We just want a country that works," law student Jana Vasic told the BBC in the growing crowd in Belgrade. | "We just want a country that works," law student Jana Vasic told the BBC in the growing crowd in Belgrade. |
| "We want institutions that do their jobs properly. We don't care what party is in power. But we need a country that works, not one where you don't get justice for more than four months." | "We want institutions that do their jobs properly. We don't care what party is in power. But we need a country that works, not one where you don't get justice for more than four months." |
| Serbian protesters held up mobile phone lights for 15 minutes in tribute to victims of the Novi Sad station roof collapse | Serbian protesters held up mobile phone lights for 15 minutes in tribute to victims of the Novi Sad station roof collapse |
| Republic Square - just one of the four meeting points around Serbia's capital for the "15th for 15" protest - was full to overflowing on Saturday. | Republic Square - just one of the four meeting points around Serbia's capital for the "15th for 15" protest - was full to overflowing on Saturday. |
| Some took refuge on the plinth of Prince Mihajlo's statue - the traditional spot for Belgraders to meet, the equivalent of Eros in London's Piccadilly. | Some took refuge on the plinth of Prince Mihajlo's statue - the traditional spot for Belgraders to meet, the equivalent of Eros in London's Piccadilly. |
| Others queued up along the road in front of the National Museum, stretching all the way back to Students' Square. | Others queued up along the road in front of the National Museum, stretching all the way back to Students' Square. |
| The other meeting points were every bit as crowded ahead of the planned rendezvous in front of the National Assembly. | The other meeting points were every bit as crowded ahead of the planned rendezvous in front of the National Assembly. |
| The Public Meeting Archive said 275,000-325,000 had attended the protest - "with the possibility that the number was even higher". | The Public Meeting Archive said 275,000-325,000 had attended the protest - "with the possibility that the number was even higher". |
| "Due to the extraordinary size, dynamic nature and structure of the assembly, as well as the unclear situation in some parts of the city... a more precise assessment is not possible," it added. | "Due to the extraordinary size, dynamic nature and structure of the assembly, as well as the unclear situation in some parts of the city... a more precise assessment is not possible," it added. |
| Serbian media reports 22 people were arrested and 56 others injured. | Serbian media reports 22 people were arrested and 56 others injured. |
| While the protests over the Novi Sad collapse began with students, they have been joined by taxi drivers, farmers and lawyers. | While the protests over the Novi Sad collapse began with students, they have been joined by taxi drivers, farmers and lawyers. |
| Ahead of the big protest, motorbike riders pulled up outside the National Assembly, facing off against the tractors surrounding a camp of pro-government counter-protesters. | Ahead of the big protest, motorbike riders pulled up outside the National Assembly, facing off against the tractors surrounding a camp of pro-government counter-protesters. |
| Then a parade of military veterans received a rousing welcome. They said they would make a citizen's arrest on anyone who attacked the students. | Then a parade of military veterans received a rousing welcome. They said they would make a citizen's arrest on anyone who attacked the students. |
| Earlier on Saturday farmers, students and bikers took part in the large crowds protesting in central Belgrade | Earlier on Saturday farmers, students and bikers took part in the large crowds protesting in central Belgrade |
| The students have been calling for full transparency and accountability over the collapse of a concrete and glass canopy at the station in Serbia's second city, which was renovated and only reopened - by Vucic - in 2022. | The students have been calling for full transparency and accountability over the collapse of a concrete and glass canopy at the station in Serbia's second city, which was renovated and only reopened - by Vucic - in 2022. |
| They want the government to publish all the documentation relating to the renovation project and say they are not satisfied with the papers the authorities have released so far. | They want the government to publish all the documentation relating to the renovation project and say they are not satisfied with the papers the authorities have released so far. |
| They also want those responsible for the disaster to be charged and convicted. Prosecutors have indicted at least 16 people, including former construction minister Goran Vesic. | They also want those responsible for the disaster to be charged and convicted. Prosecutors have indicted at least 16 people, including former construction minister Goran Vesic. |
| But the charges have yet to go to trial. And the students insist they will continue with their protests until the authorities meet all their demands. | But the charges have yet to go to trial. And the students insist they will continue with their protests until the authorities meet all their demands. |
| "We're making progress," a student representing Belgrade University's philosophy faculty told the BBC. "But at this point none of our demands have been met completely." | "We're making progress," a student representing Belgrade University's philosophy faculty told the BBC. "But at this point none of our demands have been met completely." |
| "A couple of politicians have resigned from their offices," noted another. "But they weren't fired. We're yet to see anything but empty promises". | "A couple of politicians have resigned from their offices," noted another. "But they weren't fired. We're yet to see anything but empty promises". |
| Prime Minister Milos Vucevic announced his resignation at the end of January. But that has yet to be ratified by the National Assembly and he remains in his post. | Prime Minister Milos Vucevic announced his resignation at the end of January. But that has yet to be ratified by the National Assembly and he remains in his post. |
| But the real power in Serbia lies with Vucic, who insists that he is going nowhere. | But the real power in Serbia lies with Vucic, who insists that he is going nowhere. |
| "I don't give in to blackmail," he told a media conference on the eve of the big protest. "I won't allow the street to pave a horrible future for this country." | "I don't give in to blackmail," he told a media conference on the eve of the big protest. "I won't allow the street to pave a horrible future for this country." |
| Fifteen people died after the roof collapse at Novi Sad station in November | Fifteen people died after the roof collapse at Novi Sad station in November |
| Addressing the nation on Saturday, Vucic praised the police, adding that he was proud that "we managed to preserve the peace". | |
| He said that he "understood" the protesters' message, and that "we will have to change ourselves". | |
| Vucic has described the student protests as "well-intentioned". But he had less flattering words for opposition parties, labelling them members of a "criminal cartel". He accused them of attempting to force the formation of a "fraudulent interim government". | |
| Borko Stefanovic does not deny that the opposition parties are looking for the establishment of a "government of experts". | Borko Stefanovic does not deny that the opposition parties are looking for the establishment of a "government of experts". |
| The deputy president of the Party of Freedom and Justice describes it as the "only rational way out" of the political crisis, which would establish the conditions for fresh elections. | The deputy president of the Party of Freedom and Justice describes it as the "only rational way out" of the political crisis, which would establish the conditions for fresh elections. |
| Like other opposition leaders, Stefanovic says that free elections are not currently possible due to the Progressive Party's domination of the media and state institutions. | Like other opposition leaders, Stefanovic says that free elections are not currently possible due to the Progressive Party's domination of the media and state institutions. |
| But this is not one of the students' demands. They are simply calling for the truth behind the Novi Sad disaster to be established. | But this is not one of the students' demands. They are simply calling for the truth behind the Novi Sad disaster to be established. |
| As law professor Miodrag Jovanovic puts it "they are asking for the things I've been lecturing about - the rule of law, respect for the constitution, and the responsibility and accountability of public officials". | As law professor Miodrag Jovanovic puts it "they are asking for the things I've been lecturing about - the rule of law, respect for the constitution, and the responsibility and accountability of public officials". |
| Whatever happens during the "15th for 15" protest, it seems unlikely that the students will relent until they receive some satisfactory answers. | Whatever happens during the "15th for 15" protest, it seems unlikely that the students will relent until they receive some satisfactory answers. |