Dragan, 4O4A

“The courage of Dijana Hrka, a mother starving herself in the name of justice after losing her son in the Novi Sad tragedy, shames those in power in Serbia. She continues her hunger strike in front of the Serbian Parliament, demanding truth, justice, and accountability for her son and for all the victims. Last night, the Serbian police once again showed they are not neutral. In front of a mother’s pain, they allowed hooligans reportedly mobilised by President Vučić’s entourage to approach her, blasting music, setting off fireworks and throwing firecrackers — a grotesque act of intimidation. And when arrests were made, they targeted those protecting the mother, not those harassing her. This is not law enforcement — it is political repression and moral collapse. President Vučić, if you have even a trace of courage, don’t hide behind your police and hired mobs. Come down from your palace, face this mother, and look her in the eyes. Because politics is meant to be the courage to take responsibility — not the cowardice of hiding from it.” - @sandrogozi

Exactly one year ago, at 11:52, the sky collapsed on the station of Novi Sad. Sixteen lives were buried under tonnes of concrete—and behind them, a wall of silence. Sara and Valentina were just six and ten. Anja died days later. Vukašin, a high school student, months after. It wasn’t fate. It was neglect, corruption, impunity. And still—no justice, no truth, no accountability. Today, millions of students will take to the streets. Like after the Tempi train disaster in Greece, they will ask the questions the system fears: Who let this happen? Who will answer for it? We stand with them.

They are thousands. Hundreds of thousands. They are students, workers, mothers, sons. They are citizens who believe Serbia’s future must not be hijacked by fear, lies and impunity. Marching across the country to Novi Sad, they are reclaiming memory, truth and justice. One year after the canopy collapse, still no responsibility, still no justice. They march for democracy. They march for dignity. And we march with them. As European Democrats, we will never stand aside when freedom is under attack.

Kneeling, hands tied, facing the wall — this is the image of Vučić’s Serbia today. These are students and peaceful citizens whose only “crime” is asking for freedom, justice, transparency, and an end to corruption. Serbia is an EU candidate country. Silence from Brussels is not neutrality — it is complicity. Europe cannot look away while democracy is humiliated on its doorstep.