Eight days after a tragic incident in Novi Sad claimed the lives of 14 people, authorities have yet to name any suspects, despite numerous interrogations. Meanwhile, citizens and activists demanding accountability have faced detentions by individuals in civilian clothes. This has raised concerns among the University of Novi Sad’s Academy of Arts and Faculty of Philosophy, both of which have expressed worries about student safety and condemned the repression of peaceful demonstrations. Pročitaj više

During a recent protest blocking the Varadin Bridge, participants voiced their frustration. „Absolute power, absolute responsibility,“ said one protester, while another noted, „We are all under the same roof.“ The movement is growing in response to what demonstrators feel is a lack of transparency in identifying those responsible for the deaths.

The tension escalated when two female activists were reportedly taken into black cars before the protest. Activist Mila Pajic described the event, explaining that unidentifiable men dressed in black detained her and another activist, likening the scene to forced disappearances under Chilean dictator Pinochet. „They refused to show identification; it felt like an abduction, a clear attempt to intimidate us,“ she added.

Following hours of questioning, Pajic asserted that the protesters’ determination remains undeterred. „We’re here because 14 people lost their lives, and no one has taken responsibility. Even with these arrests, they can’t detain all of us.“

Novi Sad councilor Miran Pogacar was detained for a four-hour interrogation prior to the protest, and a court decision reversed the release of former provincial official Goran Jesic, allegedly due to „witness interference.“ Jesic’s lawyer, Srdjan Kovacevic, questioned the decision, pointing out that the witnesses are either police officers or an individual who remains in custody, making interference improbable.

The recent protests have cast a spotlight not on those directly responsible for the tragedy but rather on those calling for accountability. Demonstrators and observers argue that arrests appear to target individuals who seek justice rather than potential perpetrators. In an unusual turn, a small truck carrying debris, symbolically meant to be dumped on the bridge during the protest, was intercepted by police, removed from traffic, and sent for an inspection.