Archive · 21 Dec 2025
Serbia Students Protest University Pressure After Tragedy
In Serbia, many students and activists gathered in the town of Novi Pazar to protest.
They are upset because the government is putting pressure on universities.
The students say the university took away their status for joining protests and fired many teachers.
They want the university leaders to step down and new ones to be elected.
This protest is part of a bigger movement that started after a tragic accident where a railway station roof collapsed, killing 16 people.
The protesters also want to remember those who died in the accident.
They are chanting and waving flags to show their support.
The town of Novi Pazar is known for having a young population, mostly Muslims, and it's been peaceful despite its different ethnic makeup.
Several thousand activists and students protested in Novi Pazar against government pressure on state universities.
The protest follows the revocation of student status for those absent due to protests and the dismissal of dozens of lecturers.
Protesters demand the resignation of the university's managing board and the election of a new rector.
The movement is part of a wider protest against political interference in higher education, sparked by a railway station roof collapse in Novi Sad that killed 16 people.
Novi Pazar is known for its young, majority Muslim population, and the protest was the first of its kind in the town.
- Who
- Students, activists, academics, and opposition figures from across Serbia
- What
- Protest against government pressure on state universities and the revocation of student status for protesters
- When
- December 21, 2023
- Where
- Novi Pazar, Serbia
- Why
- To demand the resignation of the university's managing board, the election of a new rector, and to protest political interference in higher education
- Location
- Novi Pazar, Serbia
- Date
- December 21
- Participants
- Several thousand activists and students
- Key Demands
- Resignation of university's managing board, election of new rector
- Background Event
- Railway station roof collapse in Novi Sad (November 1, 2023)
- Casualties
- 16 people killed in the roof collapse
- Ethnic Composition
- 60% of Novi Pazar's population is under 30 and majority Muslim