On November 1, the roof of a newly renovated train station in Novi Sad collapsed, killing 15 people and critically injuring two. The Novi Sad railway station had been under renovation for three years by a Chinese consortium as part of China’s massive Belt and Road Initiative, aimed at accelerating the transport of Chinese goods to Europe.

The incident sparked huge protests across Serbia, with demonstrators blaming the tragedy on corruption. In response, the government agreed to release certain documents related to the station’s renovation, pardon protesters arrested during demonstrations, increase funding for higher education, and initiate criminal proceedings against those accused of attacking demonstrators. Prosecutors have already indicted 13 people in connection with the collapse.

On March 21, another person who had been injured in the tragedy died, raising the death toll to 16.

During the latest protests in March, protesters claimed that the Serbian security forces had used a sonic weapon again them and demanded an independent investigation. Government denied the allegations.