Serbian students run for justice: Vienna reaches protest march!

Serbian students run for justice: Vienna reaches protest march!

Platz Am Hof, 1010 Wien, Österreich - On April 30, 2025, 21 Serbian students set an impressive sign of justice and the rule of law. You run a 2,000-kilometer ultramarathon from Novi Sad to Brussels, with a stopover in Vienna. This protest march was initiated in response to the tragic collapse of a station roof in Novi Sad, in which 16 people lost their lives. The students not only demand justice for the victims, but also comprehensive reforms in Serbia. The time of the campaign falls in the middle of a wave of protests that are directed against corruption and abuse of power and denounce the weakening of democratic institutions.

The runners want to carry their message of the rule of law, transparency and social justice to the European institutions in Brussels. The official studies on the railway accident have shown that inferior building materials and lack of security inspections were responsible for the disaster. This unveiling has fueled the displeasure of systemic corruption in Serbia. Protest action is therefore not just an act of mourning, but a clear sign that the will to change in Serbian society is very strong.

student movement and support

The protest movement, which the students led, has now expanded to 14 universities in Serbia. This movement is one of the largest in the history of the country, and according to a study by the NGO CRTA, 80 percent of the population support the demands of the protesters. The students created a decentralized, grassroots democratic structure in which decisions are made collectively. This approach is particularly effective because it deprives the government of an attack area and at the same time sends a clear message.

It is particularly noticeable that the students ignore the media -related media and create their own narratives, memes and symbols to spread their message. The government of Aleksandar Vučić is increasingly difficult to control the protests. Massive irregularities in the last elections and the attempt to control the media and the judiciary have further shaken confidence in the government. Many demonstrators do not demand an explicit discontinuation of their leadership, but a functioning system that ensures the rule of law.

international reactions and outlook

The EU Commission expressed “serious concerns” regarding media freedom and dealing with peaceful demonstrators in Serbia. Despite the massive support from the population, there is a lack of international pressure on Vučić, which has lost support in recent months. The Serbian government has taken desperate measures to give the impression that public support is intact, among other things by showing tractors in Pro-Vučić demonstrations that do not mobilize any real farmers.

It remains unclear whether Vučić can sit out the protests or whether the students are able to continue to maintain their resistance. There are no EU flags during the protests, which underlines dissatisfaction with European policy. In Vienna, the runners are expected at the court at 5:30 p.m., and with every mile that they get closer to their destination, the pressure on the government will continue to grow on the demands of the demonstrators.