The company “Starting”, located in Batajnica and serving as the primary subcontractor for the renovation of the Novi Sad Railway Station—at the site where the canopy fell on November 1, resulting in 15 fatalities—has allegedly misrepresented itself as a contractor for work on a Montenegrin highway, potentially constituting a criminal act.

Although “Starting” claims on its website to have participated in the “Bar – Boljare highway construction project” during 2017 and 2018, both the Ministry of Transport and the state-owned firm “Monteput” assert that the company is not recognized as a contractor or subcontractor for this project. They emphasize that no approval for any highway work was granted to this company, which has been reportedly linked to the Serbian Progressive Party’s leaders, including Aleksandar Vučić, implying that there are no valid references for such work.

“Starting” has not responded to inquiries from “Vijesti” regarding its purported involvement in the highway construction project, questions that were directed to them last week.

They are not on the list.

“Starting” claims in its credentials that it was a partner of the Podgorica-based company “AB Construct” for the “Bar-Boljare highway construction project” in Montenegro during 2017 and 2018.

Consequently, “Vijesti” reached out to the Ministry of Transport and “Monteput” to ask whether “Starting” from Belgrade, its subsidiary in Montenegro, or “AB Construct” were involved in any design or execution work for the Bar – Boljare highway, including the already completed Podgorica – Mateševo section.

The joint response indicated that consent was required for each subcontractor engaged in any work, with approvals issued for 121 companies, none of which included “Starting” or “AB Construct”. Therefore, they could not claim any references for the project.

In one document, “AB Construct” is mentioned, illustrating that the actual contractor borrowed drills from that company, but this does not constitute participation in the project.

“According to the provisions of the Contract for the design and construction of the priority section Smokovac-Uvač-Mateševo on the Bar – Boljare motorway, the Ministry, upon the Contractor’s request for subcontractor approval for project documentation preparation or construction work, obtained the opinion of the Investor’s Representative/Project Manager (Monteputo doo), preceded by the Project Supervisor’s opinion (Ingerop & Geodata). Suppliers and lessors of materials and equipment, as well as service providers related to the Project and the Contract, are not considered subcontractors, and obtaining the Investor’s consent was unnecessary for them. Upon reviewing the issued consents for subcontractor engagements, totaling 121 along with numerous amendments, we confirm that neither ‘Starting’ nor ‘AB Construct’ received a consent for subcontracting in the Smokovac-Mateševo section construction project. Based on available information, ‘AB Construct’ from Podgorica was engaged by CRBC as a supplier for machine rental and anchor drilling services for which no Investor consent was required,” stated the Ministry of Transport and “Monteput”.

A canopy weighing 23 tons more than allowed

Based on partially released documentation regarding the Novi Sad accident, “Starting” was responsible for waterproofing, tiling, and a skylight on the disputed canopy. An expert report from the Faculty of Technical Sciences in Novi Sad, commissioned by the Higher Prosecutor’s Office and published in late December, concluded that the canopy’s collapse was due to it being 23 tons over the permitted load.

As the primary subcontractor on the Railway Station reconstruction, “Starting” was hired by the main contractor, the Chinese company “China Communication Construction Company”.

To date, it has been reported that “Starting” received at least 5.1 million euros for its work through eight contract amendments, from a total contract value of 15 million euros awarded to the Chinese company for the entire project.

The complete publication of documentation concerning the controversial Railway Station reconstruction is a key demand from student groups across nearly all faculties in Serbia, who have been protesting for almost three months…

Hiding documentation and links to the regime

In the aftermath of the accident, Serbian officials, including President Aleksandar Vučić, initially asserted that no work had been conducted on the canopy itself. Later, they claimed that “some coating” had been applied, purportedly without impacting its structural integrity. Vučić repeatedly insisted that all documentation was made public and the students’ demands addressed—claims that were proven false.

Documentation regarding the work at the Novi Sad Railway Station has been published on three occasions, yet the Faculty of Civil Engineering insists that essential documentation is still absent, and the authenticity of certain released documents cannot be verified.

Questions have also arisen about the signatures on some documents related to “Starting”, as they were allegedly signed by individuals lacking proper authorization.

Investigative media reports in Serbia have connected “Starting” to the leadership of Vučić’s Serbian Progressive Party. It is noted that the company is largely owned by Ljiljana Tripkovic from Belgrade (holding a 70% stake) and Nikola Trivic (30%), who is also the owner of the construction firm “NIT gradnja”.

However, investigations reveal that her representative in various proceedings was a law firm headed by Vojislav Nedić, a member of the SNS and the father of Novak Nedić, the Secretary General of the Serbian Government and a member of the SNS presidency.

The Novi Sad Railway Station has formally opened twice, yet the occupancy permit has not been published. The initial phase of reconstruction kicked off in October 2021, with the station officially opened during the election campaign in March 2022. Work subsequently continued, and the station was re-opened on July 5 of the previous year, just four months before the tragedy…

The company “Starting” is involved in a multitude of public infrastructure projects in Serbia, in addition to residential and commercial buildings in several locations, including Belgrade on the Water.

False reference a crime

A source from “Vijesti” affiliated with the Chamber of Engineers highlights that providing false references to secure contracts or attract clients is a criminal offense, akin to misrepresentation, profit-driven fraud, and forgery of official documents.

“If ‘Starting’, while seeking work, presented a reference indicating they participated in a Montenegrin highway construction project and obtained a contract in Serbia or elsewhere based on this false claim, they have committed a serious criminal offense. This constitutes fraud and misrepresentation, particularly if this reference is mentioned on their website to lure clients,” the source emphasizes.

They say they built in Igalo and Đenovići

“Starting” also lists in its credentials participation in the construction of a residential and commercial building in Igalo in Montenegro in 2012 for the firm “Katunjanin”, as well as residential buildings in Đenovići and Zelenica for private clients in 2011.

In 2015, “Vijesti” reported that lawyer Vojislav Nedić constructed one of the most luxurious villas in Rijeka Reževića, situated just ten meters from the sea.

Belgrade’s “Starting” previously had a subsidiary of the same name based in Podgorica, established in November 2020 and dissolved in May of the following year. The company “AB Construct” Podgorica is registered at the same address—Ulica Iva Andrića 43 in Zagorič—and is owned by Nikola Trivić, who holds a 30% stake in Belgrade’s “Starting” and serves as its director.

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