The attorneys representing Milutin Savović, who is being investigated in connection with the collapse of the railway station canopy in Novi Sad, have claimed that the Higher Public Prosecutor’s Office (VJT) in Belgrade is disseminating “a considerable amount of false and incomplete information” through the media, which “unjustly connects their client directly to the tragedy” and “publicly stigmatizes him.”

Lawyers Vladimir Beljanski and Bojan Papić emphasized that the prosecution’s goal is to foster a public misunderstanding that Savović was responsible for the decision to initiate trial operation of the station building, in an effort to absolve high-ranking state officials who were actually responsible for enabling the railway station’s operations.

Earlier today, the Belgrade Public Prosecutor’s Office announced that it has filed charges against Slobodanka K., the investment development manager of “Infrastruktura Železnica Srbije,” Milutin S., the president of the Technical Inspection Commission for the Novi Sad Railway Station, and Biljana K., a member of that commission.

The charges pertain to multiple criminal offenses involving corruption related to the canopy’s collapse at the railway station on November 1, 2024, which resulted in 15 fatalities and two serious injuries.

Chief Public Prosecutor of the VJP, Nenad Stefanović, stated there is reasonable suspicion that their neglect contributed to the disaster.

He remarked that if they had carried out their duties with care and conducted an adequate extraordinary inspection, as well as ensured that all conditions were met during the trial operation, they would have likely observed signs of wear and increased deflection on the canopy in the days leading up to its collapse.

Slobodanka K. faces charges of “abuse of official position” and “serious offense against public safety.”

Milutin S. and Biljana K. are charged with “unconscionable work in service” and “serious offense against public safety.”

The lawyers stated in a release that Savović, who chaired the Commission responsible for the technical inspection of the works on the Novi Sad – Subotica – state border (Kelebija) railway section, inclusive of the Novi Sad railway station, was arrested on February 24, “after which a media campaign was launched against him.”

They also pointed out that “this information is predominantly coming from representatives of the Belgrade Public Prosecutor’s Office, which is conducting the investigation against Savović and others.”

“In violation of current regulations, the acting prosecutor’s office is leaking information to the media about the proceedings before even informing the defense attorneys of the defendants about the actions taken,” the lawyers stated.

They warned that this action undermines the presumption of innocence and could compromise the outcome of the criminal proceedings.

They expressed that the initiation of criminal proceedings against Savović has “misled the public into believing that he was responsible for the trial operation of the Novi Sad railway station.”

“This assertion is completely false but should lead to the dismissal of the senior state officials who were truly responsible for the railway station’s operation,” they cautioned.

Additionally, they noted that the investigation lodged by the Belgrade Public Prosecutor’s Office was prompted by a criminal complaint from the defense attorney of one of the state officials now facing charges before the Higher Public Prosecutor’s Office in Novi Sad, “even though the complaint had previously been dismissed by the Novi Sad Prosecutor’s Office.”

The lawyers assert that “Savović and the Commission he led never sanctioned the commissioning of the station building within the Novi Sad railway station.”

“The technical inspection report from April 2024, which has been frequently cited in the media, and which allegedly permitted the trial operation of the station building, was not prepared for that purpose and could not serve as a permit for trial operation, let alone for allowing passenger access,” the lawyers explained.

They maintain that the report was produced at the request of the contractor, China Railway International Company, “strictly for the purpose of connecting the transformer station to the electricity distribution network, so that work on the station could progress,” and they assert that this is well-documented.

They highlighted that Savović was placed in custody, while the state officials against whom proceedings are ongoing related to the canopy collapse were merely placed under house arrest, a significantly less severe measure.

They announced that “numerous violations of the Criminal Procedure Code occurred during the process,” citing that Savović’s defense attorneys “were completely denied access to the criminal case files or the opportunity to present any evidence during the investigation.”

They characterized the prosecution’s actions as indicative of “a clear intent to expedite the proceedings” against Savović, despite the Supreme Public Prosecutor’s Office having decided on March 3, 2025, to transfer the handling of this case to the Prosecutor’s Office for Organized Crime from the VJP in Belgrade.

As the lawyers stated, shortly after this decision was rendered, the Belgrade Public Prosecutor’s Office completed its investigation and laid charges.

“This clearly reflects the prosecutor’s intention to swiftly conclude this stage of the proceedings in an attempt to maintain jurisdiction over the case, despite being deemed incompetent to proceed further by the Supreme Prosecutor’s Office,” the lawyers asserted.

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