The Higher Prosecution Office in Novi Sad has filed an amended indictment against former Transport Minister Goran Vesic and 12 others over the collapse of a concrete canopy at Novi Sad railway station last November, which claimed 16 lives.
The new indictment, submitted on Tuesday, follows the rejection of the initial version by the Higher Court, which returned the case for further investigation. All of the accused are charged with endangering public safety in connection with the partial collapse of the station’s exterior canopy on November 2, 2024.
The disaster triggered widespread protests across Serbia, fueling public anger over alleged corruption and negligence in the country’s infrastructure projects. Demonstrations have continued for months, becoming a rallying point for criticism of the government.
“Aware of the significance of these proceedings, the Higher Public Prosecutor’s Office in Novi Sad employed all available human and material resources in order to establish the complete factual situation,” the prosecution said in a statement.
According to the indictment, Vesic and other officials allowed public use of the station despite ongoing construction and the absence of an occupancy permit. They are also accused of neglecting maintenance and overseeing flawed design and renovation works that compromised the building’s safety.
The prosecution has requested detention for all defendants, citing risks of a “significant public disturbance” that could undermine the fairness of the proceedings. In some cases, detention is also being sought to prevent the possibility of reoffending.
The amended charges name not only Vesic but also Jelena Tanaskovic, then acting director of Serbian Railways Infrastructure; Anita Dimovski, who served as acting assistant construction minister; and Nebojsa Surlan, director of Serbian Railways Infrastructure during the station’s reconstruction. Additional indictees include representatives of design firms, construction contractors, and technical supervisors.
Vesic, who resigned following the tragedy, was initially held in custody before being released. He has reportedly been receiving hospital treatment for more than a month.
The Higher Court had previously declined to confirm the original indictment filed in December 2024, stating that further clarification was needed to assess the case’s merits. The amended filing now sets the stage for one of Serbia’s most high-profile trials in recent years, with the potential to reshape public trust in the country’s institutions.
