After widespread protests in response to the deadly canopy collapse at Novi Sad train station in November 2024, Prime Minister Miloš Vučević, who was Novi Sad's Mayor at the time of the reconstruction of the train station, has resigned. Protests have been led by students and included major traffic blockages, marches from Belgrade to Novi Sad and school strikes. The protest on 22 December, which reportedly attracted around 100,000 people, became one of the largest in the country’s history. Protesters have blamed corruption as a factor in the canopy collapse and demanded full transparency in the case. They also protested against the alleged pro-government bias of the public broadcaster. President Aleksandar Vučić claimed the students were being financed by “Western powers.” There were also reports of violence against protesters, with one incident involving a man deliberately driving into a woman at high speed. As of 1 February, the protests were still ongoing. 

Sources: Danas, Euractiv, Balkan Insight (1), Balkan Insight (2), European Western Balkans (1), European Western Balkans (2), Al Jazeera, Deutsche Welle, International IDEA 

On 16 December, Amnesty International reported that Serbian authorities used advanced spyware alongside other digital tools to hack the phones of activists and journalists. The report documented the use of NSO Group’s Pegasus spyware, alongside NoviSpy spyware system, and the misuse of Cellebrite’s UFED mobile forensics tools, which Serbia received in 2019 as part of its EU integration efforts. Serbia's intelligence agency (BIA) rejected the claims and said it works “in accordance with the laws". Legal experts said that Serbian law provides no legal basis for the BIA's use of spyware. Journalists and civil society groups, which have faced ongoing crackdowns, described this as an attack on civil society, press freedom, privacy, freedom of expression, and association. Amnesty International reported spyware use in the country in 2023, without confirming government involvement. Serbia ranked among Europe's top countries for Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation in 2023.

UPDATE: On 25 February 2025, Cellebrite UFED announced that it would stop providing its digital forensic products to the relevant customers in Serbia in response to Amnesty International’s December 2024 report. 

Sources: Amnesty International (1), Amnesty International (2), Balkan Insight (1), Balkan Insight (2), Security Information Agency, Article 19, International IDEA (1), International IDEA (2), International IDEA (3)

New Sources: Amnesty International, The Record, N1 Srbija 

On 29 November, the Draft Law on a Special Register of Foreign Influence Agents was submitted to Parliament by members of the Movement of Socialists, a ruling coalition member led by Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vulin. Local media reported that the legislation "quietly entered parliamentary procedure" without the usual announcements. The proposed law mandates organizations receiving over 50 per cent foreign funding to register as "foreign agents," with harsh penalties for non-compliance. Supporters claim it promotes transparency, arguing some foreign-funded NGOs oppose Serbia's national interests. Critics warn the legislation threatens freedom of expression and civil society and their operations. The European Economic and Social Committee—an EU consultative body—said the legislation is “incompatible with the fundamental values” of the EU and jeopardises democratic values, human rights, and European integration of Serbia. The draft law has been compared to recent legislation in Georgia, Hungary, and Russia. As a next step, the law will go through regular parliamentary review.

Sources: Narodna skupština Republike Srbije, Nedeljne informativne novine (NIN), Center for Research, Transparency and Accountability (CRTA), Pokret Socijalista, European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, International IDEA

On 1 November, a canopy collapse at the Novi Sad railway station claimed 15 lives, triggering tensions and one of the largest protests in recent years in Northern Serbia. The station was renovated as part of a Chinese-led project, completed in July 2024. The tensions led to violence in protests—marked by arrests, including those of opposition members, and in Parliament, where MPs had physical clashes after the opposition was denied a debate on accountability. The Higher Public Prosecutor’s Office in Novi Sad announced an investigation into public officials and individuals involved in the construction. The public has expressed concerns that the probe did not extend to financial irregularities or corruption, particularly involving the local subcontractor company, which has previously been awarded major government projects. Two ministers and the acting director of railway infrastructure resigned. It will be important to watch how the ongoing investigation will be handled in terms of transparency and accountability, especially given the high distrust of citizens in judiciary. 

Sources: Balkan Insight (1), Balkan Insight (2), Danas, Nedeljne informativne novine (NIN), Radar, Higher Public Prosecutor’s Office in Novi Sad, International Republican Institute 

Following around 50 protests since June, a mass demonstration against lithium mining on 10 August drew around 30,000 participants, ending with the blockade of two train stations and several arrests. Three activists were handed what were deemed harsh penalties by legal experts—one receiving 40 days of detention and two others 30 days—for “disturbing public order,” though the ruling was overturned for all of them on appeal on 13 August. The protest targeted a plan to open a lithium mine by the Australian-British consortium Rio Tinto, with activists urging a law to permanently ban lithium mining. Despite the project's potential economic benefits, citizens fear it will pollute land and water and disrupt local communities. The project, initially cancelled in 2022 after mass protests, was revived in July without proper public or civil society consultation when German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and European Commission Vice President Maroš Šefčovič secured deals for EU carmakers to access Serbian lithium. Government officials dismissed the protest as politically motivated.

Sources: Danas, Politico (1), Politico (2), Reuters, European Western Balkans