Student-Led Protests Sweep the Balkans: A Cry for Accountability and Change

A Wave of Solidarity Against Corruption

In a powerful display of unity and determination, students across the Balkans—specifically in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, and Serbia—are rising up to demand accountability for corruption and governmental mismanagement. These protests, inspired by the solidarity of their fellow students in neighboring countries, highlight the deep-seated frustrations of a generation fed up with systemic graft and incompetence. The recent tragedies in each country have become the catalyst for these movements, as young people refuse to accept the status quo and instead call for sweeping political change.

The protests in Bosnia and Herzegovina, for instance, were sparked by the deaths of 29 people in Sarajevo last October.Torrential floods led to a landslide of rubble from an illegally constructed quarry, a disaster that many believe could have been prevented if authorities had acted responsibly. Students in the capital city are now demanding justice, holding banners that read “Crime without punishment” and chanting “We won’t stop!” as they insist on criminal accountability for those whose negligence led to the tragedy. “They weren’t killed by the rain or rocks, but by the negligence of the authorities,” the students declared in a united statement.

Similarly, in Montenegro, students are protesting the failure of security officials to prevent two mass shootings that claimed the lives of 23 people, including children. The most recent tragedy occurred on New Year’s Day, leaving 13 dead before the attacker took his own life. The SVC-like precision of these attacks has left the nation questioning why no measures were taken after a similar shooting in 2022, which killed 10 people, including two children. For Milo Perovic, one of the protest organizers, the movement is about following the “waves of boldness” emerging from Serbia, where student-led protests have already begun to challenge the government’s grip on power.

Regional Solidarity and Shared Grievances

The student movements in Bosnia, Montenegro, and Serbia are not isolated incidents but part of a broader wave of solidarity sweeping across the Balkans. These nations, once part of the former Yugoslavia, share a common history of conflict and a present marked by widespread corruption and mismanagement. The protests illustrate a shared sense of grievance among their citizens, particularly the younger generation, who are determined to break free from the cycle of impunity and incompetence that has plagued their countries for decades.

In Serbia, the protests were ignited by the collapse of a railway station canopy in Novi Sad on November 1, which killed 15 people. Critics have blamed the tragedy on government corruption in the awarding of construction contracts, and the incident has become a symbol of the broader failings of the political elite. Student-led strikes and road blockades have paralyzed the country, with widespread support from other citizens who are joining the movement. The protests have swelled into a broader demand for change, challenging the authority of President Aleksandar Vucic, who has ruled Serbia with a tight grip for over a decade.

The solidarity extends beyond the Balkans. Demonstrations in support of the Serbian students have taken place in Croatia and Slovenia, two other former Yugoslav states, as well as in cities around the world with large diaspora populations, including the United States, Canada, Australia, and European Union countries. This global resonance underscores the universal demand for accountability and the belief that collective action can lead to meaningful change.

A Call for Political Change and Reform

The protests are not just about demanding justice for specific tragedies; they are a broader call for political reform and an end to corruption. As Sumeja Durakovic, a student in Sarajevo, put it, “We, the students, can get together and change the society and our corrupt system.” For many young people in the region, the time has come to “wake up and finally react to what political leaders have been doing to us for the past 30 years.”

This sentiment is particularly poignant in the context of the region’s pursuit of European Union membership. Bosnia, Montenegro, and Serbia are all seeking to join the EU, but progress has been slow due to the lack of meaningful reforms. The protests highlight the growing impatience of a generation that refuses to accept the promises of political elites without seeing tangible results. “As we can see in Serbia, the protests there are effective because they are massive. Other people are joining the students, and they are persistent,” Durakovic said, emphasizing the power of unity and persistence in driving change.

The Power of Student-Led Movements

The student-led movements in the Balkans are a testament to the power of grassroots activism and the ability of young people to mobilize around shared grievances. In Sarajevo, students have been holding daily protests, demanding criminal accountability for the landslide tragedy and refusing to back down despite the lack of progress. “Four months have passed, and no one was held accountable for the deaths of 29 of our fellow citizens,” the students said in a statement, their voices filled with frustration and determination.

In Montenegro, the protests include daily silent blockades lasting 23 minutes to commemorate the victims of the mass shootings. Similarly, in Serbia, students observe 15 minutes of silence each day to honor the victims of the canopy collapse. These symbolic acts of remembrance are not only a way of paying tribute to the lost lives but also a powerful reminder of the human cost of corruption and mismanagement.

The movements are also inspiring others to take action. Lamija Fuka, a student in Sarajevo, believes that the protests are a turning point for her generation. “The time is right to wake