Serbia arrests former construction minister over deadly collapse of railway station
Former Construction Minister Goran Vesic argue that he was not arrested but responded to summons by police officers
By Talha Ozturk
BELGRADE, Serbia (AA) - Serbia's Higher Public Prosecutor’s Office in Novi Sad announced on Thursday morning that eleven people, including former Construction Minister Goran Vesic, have been detained in connection with the accident in which 15 people were killed when a concrete awning at a railway station collapsed.
Serbian Railways Infrastructure director Jelena Tanaskovic former director Nebojsa Surlan and Assistant Minister for Railway Transport Anita Dimoski are among the detainees.
However, Vesic insisted that he was not arrested, but that he responded to police summons.
''I was not arrested, I voluntarily responded to summons by police officers. I traveled to Novi Sad with, and made myself available to the investigative authorities to ensure that all circumstances surrounding the accident in Novi Sad are thoroughly investigated,'' Vesic said on social media.
Vesic resigned on Nov. 5 because of public pressure after the collapse of a canopy at the Novi Sad Railway Station entrance.
President Aleksandar Vucic said late Tuesday that new resignations are expected "as early as tomorrow" concerning the railway station accident.
Foreign Trade Minister Tomislav Momirovic resigned Wednesday.
Momirovic served as minister of construction, transport, and infrastructure in the government of Ana Brnabic from 2020 to 2022, after which he was elected minister of internal and foreign trade for two terms.
The opposition in Serbia, meanwhile, continues to criticize the government and its reaction to the accident.
An opposition group consisting of MPs, Novi Sad Municipal Council members, and residents are holding demonstrations to block the entrances to the Novi Sad Courthouse building since Tuesday.
The prosecutor's office and courtrooms are located in the courthouse building.
Demonstrators are demanding that those responsible for the accident be brought to justice. They also want the release of politicians and activists who were imprisoned during and after a protest about the collapse at the station.
Protests, which the opposition supports, continue to be held at regular intervals in Belgrade and Novi Sad.
More demonstrations occurred Thursday.
At least 15 people were killed and two injured in the collapse on Nov. 1.
Police have questioned at least 40 people in relation to the incident after suspicions of negligence were raised about repair work at the station in 2021.
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