A significant crowd assembled outside the Kragujevac city hall to greet students arriving on foot for the protest scheduled for February 15, according to a report from Radio Free Europe.

Students have been blocking faculties and demanding accountability for the accident in Novi Sad, making their way to Kragujevac after four days of walking.

Numerous groups of students journeyed from various regions of Serbia, with many opting to cycle.

As reported by RFE/RL, cyclists from Belgrade were the first to reach Kragujevac, where they were warmly received. Some members of the crowd offered them flowers and expressions of gratitude.

Following the cyclists, marathon runners arrived in Kragujevac after beginning their journey earlier that day from the Temple of Saint Sava in Belgrade.

The largest contingent set off on February 11th, departing from Niš and Belgrade.

While some have already reached Kragujevac, more students are expected to arrive in the hours ahead.

During their previous days on the road, the students stopped and rested in several cities across Serbia, where they were greeted with food and refreshments from local residents.

The students occupying the University of Kragujevac are planning a protest on February 15th, along with a 15-hour blockade of Lepenički Boulevard in the city in observance of the national holiday, Sretenje.

This marks the second time since the commencement of student protests on November 26 that a group of academics has traversed Serbia to join their peers at demonstrations in another location.

Previously, some students from Belgrade University walked for two days to reach Novi Sad and participate in protests on February 1st.

The tragic collapse of the railway station canopy in Novi Sad, which resulted in the deaths of 15 people, ignited widespread protests throughout Serbia and led to blockades of higher education institutions.

Students involved in the blockade are demanding accountability from the authorities regarding the incident, a call that has garnered support from various professors, educators, lawyers, farmers, actors, and other citizens.

The government, under President Aleksandar Vučić, claims to have met the students’ demands.

In response, the protesting students assert that Vučić has not been responsible for addressing their demands, which remain unmet, and they pledge to continue their protests.

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