Serbian cyclists on a protest tour: fight for democracy for Serbia!

Serbian cyclists on a protest tour: fight for democracy for Serbia!

Serbian cyclists arrived in Karlsruhe on Monday evening after they had traveled a distance of 1,395 kilometers. Her last stage of 81 kilometers started on Tuesday at 1 p.m. In front of Karlsruhe, the cyclists in cities such as Munich, Ulm and Stuttgart had lodged overnight stops where they were received by hundreds of supporters. In Vienna, around 2,000 people gathered on Maria-Theresien-Platz on the previous Monday to applaud the cyclists. This impressive protest has also inspired cyclists from other Western European cities that follow the goal of going to Strasbourg, including participants from Rotterdam, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Konstanz and Bonn, who also want to stand up for their concerns.

The protest movement is strongly shaped by the tragic events in Novi Sad, where on November 1, 2024, at least 15 people died in a canopy in the main station. The incident occurred in a dense flow of people and led to resignations by Prime Minister Miloš Vučević and two ministers. The exact circumstances of the collapse are still unclear, but Interior Minister Ivica Dacic warned of possible other victims and reported difficulties in the rescue work. The train station, which was reopened in July 2024 after renovation work, was a symbol of the modern infrastructure of Serbia, although the collapsed canopy was not part of the renovation.

Protest for democracy and reforms

With their action, the Serbian cyclists are calling for a profound political change in their country. The background of the protests is the growing dissatisfaction with corruption in the government apparatus under President Aleksandar Vučić, who has been in office for twelve years. Students have blocked state universities for several months and the protest movement culminated with a large rally in Belgrade in mid -March. The participants raised serious allegations against the authorities, among other things because of the use of a forbidden sound cannon.

With their trip to Strasbourg, the Serbian cyclists pursue the goal of hearing at the European Union for their concerns and mobilizing the Serbian diaspora for democracy movement. Against Serbia's background, these efforts are important as an EU candidate for accession. The country actively participates in discussions about democracy and human rights, which are funded in the Council of Europe and the European Court of Human Rights.

The next few days will promise other exciting developments because the European Parliament meets in Strasbourg in early May. The exchange between the cyclists and the political decision -makers will certainly be the focus of interest.