PUMPAJ! - Serbia's revolutionary youth
PUMPAJ! - Serbia's revolutionary youth.
On 1 November 2024, the roof of Novi Sad railway station collapsed, causing the death of 15 people. This tragedy was the result of a corrupt and poorly managed renovation project which cost 65 millions euros, co-directed by companies close to the State and Chinese companies. From that day, citizens and students began demonstrating, demanding the resignation of the mayor and prime minister, as well as full public disclosure of the project's classified documents.
On December 22, 2024, over 100000 people gathered to support the students, making it the largest protest ever.
In response, the authorities violently repressed the protests, arresting more than 50 demonstrators, kidnapping and imprisoned people, including minors, for weeks. The government continues to repress dissent, using propaganda to discredit citizens by labelling them as traitors.
The country is witnessing mass civil disobedience, led by students who have blocked half of the country's universities while leading the largest demonstration in the history of Serbia.
What they’re demanding is accountability for the crimes and for government negligence, dismissal of charges against those arrested and detained, to end the political corruption, a 20% increase in funding for state universities and the resignation of Novi Sad’s mayor Milan Đurić (who resigned on 28 January 2025) and of the Prime minister Miloš Vučević. On 28 January 2025, Vučević announced his resignation but it still has to be acknowledged by the National Assembly. All of this is demanded in accordance with the constitution, which guarantees equal rights to every individual.
The students have blocked more than 80 universities and they’re officially nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.
Photography by Valentina Luraghi.