Novi Sad Activists Protest Detention, Claim Unfair Treatment

Citizens' groups in Novi Sad organized a protest outside the Klisa prison to show solidarity with detained activists. The demonstration highlighted the perceived injustice of activists being held in custody while allegedly more serious offenders, particularly those linked to the tragic railway station roof collapse, are at large.

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The responsible for the Railway Station are freely spending holidays in the white world and spending stolen money. Meanwhile, our comrades are spending holidays in prison.

Protesters carried banners with slogans such as "Let them all go" and "For a change, arrest criminals." They voiced strong criticism against what they described as the regime's repression of individuals who think independently and express their opinions freely. The legal representatives and observers present argued that the prosecution and police are being misused to target dissenters.

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The regime is carrying out repression against all those who think with their own head and are not afraid to express that opinion.

A key point of contention raised during the protest was the disparity in treatment between the detained activists and those allegedly responsible for the deaths of 16 people due to the collapse of a canopy at the renovated Novi Sad railway station. Speakers lamented that while activists face harsh measures for minor offenses, the individuals responsible for the railway station incident are allegedly living freely abroad, enjoying their "stolen money."

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They are being detained not because they did something, but because they bothered someone.

The protest included 16 minutes of silence to commemorate the 16 victims of the railway station roof collapse. The detained activists were arrested on April 6th, with their homes searched. They face charges of endangering security and damaging property, with pre-trial detention lasting up to 30 days. Other activists and a lawyer were briefly detained but later released after their identities were confirmed. The premises used by the citizens' groups and an observation mission were also searched by the police the following day.

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And the real criminals walk free and spend stolen money around the world. Those responsible for the railway station, those who killed 16 people - they are free. Dubai, Montenegro, wherever they want. And ours are in prison, for Easter.