Serbia’s striking students are finding time to play, read or just hang out together during long protest blockades they organize to put pressure on the populist authorities.

By Tatyana Kekic in Novi Sad Serbia is in the throes of a political crisis, sparked by a deadly infrastructure collapse in Novi Sad late last year, with ongoing student-led protests putting immense pressure on the government.

They packed up food, water and extra clothes and set off. Hundreds of Serbian university students on Thursday started an 80-kilometer, or 50 mile, march toward the northern city of Novi Sad.

The growing movement began following the collapse of a concrete canopy at the central train station in Novi Sad, killing 15 people.

Novi Sad, Serbia - 01, 2025 The Duga Bridge over the Danube is overflowing with people on foot, waving banners, sounding vuvuzelas and shouts of “He's ruined!” in reference to Serbian President Alexandr Vucic.