Serbian Students' Demands Amid University Sit-ins
Publication of the complete documentation concerning the reconstruction of the Novi Sad Railway Station, which is currently inaccessible to the public.
CONCRETELY: Students demanded the release of the full documentation related to the reconstruction of the Novi Sad Railway Station. The initial response to this request was that only the Public Prosecutor’s Office possessed the documentation, but shortly afterward it was partially published by other state authorities. Our colleagues from technical faculties, as well as from the Association of Architects of Serbia, noticed that the published documents lack key materials necessary for establishing the criminal liability of those who oversaw the reconstruction of the Railway Station and were involved in it.
Specifically missing are the contracts that show who worked on the Railway Station and how much it cost, why the reconstruction cost increased fivefold, and who is responsible for the fact that the Railway Station was ceremonially opened twice without an occupancy permit.
We demand confirmation from the relevant authorities of the identity of all persons for whom there is reasonable suspicion that they physically assaulted students and professors, and we also demand the initiation of criminal proceedings against them. Furthermore, we demand the dismissal of these persons if it is shown that they hold public office.
CONCRETELY: Due to the inaction of the Ministry of the Interior (MUP) regarding this request, on December 2, 2024, a full professor and the Dean of the Faculty of Dramatic Arts (FDU) filed a criminal complaint on behalf of the faculty with the Third Basic Public Prosecutor’s Office. The complaint refers to individuals for whom there is reasonable suspicion that on November 22, 2024, they physically attacked students and professors of the aforementioned faculty, thereby committing the criminal offense of Violent Behavior at a Public Gathering or Sporting Event.1
The individuals identified by the Higher Public Prosecutor’s Office in Belgrade are:
- Milija Koldžić
- Aleksandar Jokić
- Dušan Kostić
- Milena Aleksić
- Ivan Stanišić
This request applies both to the individuals listed above and to any future person who may physically attack students and professors and all other persons participating in peaceful civic gatherings.
According to publicly available information, the same request is being extended to individuals whose identity has not yet been confirmed by the relevant authorities, but who are suspected to be:
- Tatjana Makević Nikolić
- Dražen Đurđić, President of the Municipality of Sremski Karlovci
- Miljan Vračarević
- Predrag Veselinović
- Mladen Radenković, Chief of the Department for Public Order and Peace of the Belgrade Police Directorate.
- Aleksandar Čavić, Councilor in the Assembly of the City of Belgrade
- Petar Čavić
- Gavrilo Kovačević, President of the City Municipality of Zemun
- Dejan Paunović, Commissioner of the Municipal Board of Rakovica
- Igor Ćogić
- Vesna Čingelić, Member of the Council of the Municipality of Rakovica
- Ćoko Nenadić
- Stefan Pantelić Stefanović, Member of the Council of the City Municipality of New Belgrade
- Luka Roganović
In addition to initiating criminal proceedings against individuals who physically attacked professors and students, and for whom this will yet be confirmed, if it is established that these individuals are public officials, pursuant to Article 2, Paragraph 1, Points 3-4 of the Law on the Prevention of Corruption2 and Article 112, Paragraph 3 of the Criminal Code,3 we simultaneously demand that they be relieved of their duties.
The withdrawal of criminal charges against arrested and detained students during the protests, as well as the suspension of already initiated criminal proceedings.
CONCRETELY: In the previous period, government representatives stated that all participants in the civic protests had been released. However, this is not considered fulfillment of the demand.
The reason is that release from custody does not guarantee that these individuals will not be criminally prosecuted or that a conviction will not be rendered against them. In light of the above, we demand the withdrawal of all criminal charges against students and professors participating in the civic protests, and if criminal proceedings are already in progress, that they be terminated.