Black Banner Held up in Front of Serbian Parliament to Commemorate Victims of Novi Sad Tragedy

Serbian parliament (BETAPHOTO/Ana Slovic)

Members of the Green-Left Front and the Free Citizens Movement held up a large black banner in front of Serbia's Parliament in Belgrade on Nov. 15, joining an initiative in Vojvodina’s capital of Novi Sad, where everything stopped for 14 minutes to commemorate 14 days since 14 people were killed when a concrete overhang at the City Railway Station collapsed.

The Green-Left Front said in a release that the black banner was placed outside the Parliament of Serbia as an expression of sympathy with the families of the victims, but also as a warning that all Serbian citizens were at risk as a result of construction jobs based on corrupt deals and projects executed haphazardly by the Serbian Progressive Party. “It is appalling that 14 days after this crime, none of those responsible for the roof collapse have been brought to justice. Instead, the state is oppressing disgruntled citizens and arresting activists. More than 20 activists have been detained so far, but no one has been held accountable for the tragedy that claimed 14 lives,” the party stated.

They demanded the "immediate release of all detained activists and citizens."

“We remind everyone that the demands voiced by citizens during protests and blockades include the immediate resignation of those responsible, and establishing the criminal accountability of everyone involved in this crime. We also demand that the relevant institutions reveal all contracts and relevant documents regarding the case, and conduct an emergency review of all infrastructure projects carried out over the past ten years,” the Green-Left Front concluded in the release.