Man who attacked students gets suspended sentence in plea deal

It said that 42 year old Ivan S. reached a plea agreement with the Higher Public Prosecution and was given an 8 month suspended sentence and ordered to pay a fine of 80,000 Dinars for the assault. He admitted to striking out at students observing the minutes of silence for the victims of the collapse of a concrete canopy at the Novi Sad Railway Station which claimed 16 lives and that he verbally abused one of the young women at the protest.

Earlier media reports said that Ivan S. is a member of the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS).

Students at the Belgrade Arts University Drama Arts School were among the first to start protests following the tragedy. They were also the first to be assaulted by regime supporters. Mass student protests and the blockades of colleges followed.