When Lazar Zajovic gets on the train to Novi Sad, it is like a journey into the Vucic system. Three days after the historic change of power at the top of Serbia, the 21-year-old is on trial at the very place where the end of the regime began.
The charge for which he has to answer in court is: violent and outrageous behavior towards the police at a public meeting, breach of the peace. “That is absolutely not the truth,” says Zajovic.
Zajovic is part of the student movement that managed to win last week's parliamentary election against long-time ruler Alexandar Vucic. The protest began in November 2024 when a train station canopy collapsed in Novi Sad, killing 16 people.
From that day on, Zajovic also took to the streets, demonstrating against corruption and abuse of power. He still cannot believe that the old government has actually been voted out. "I'm like 50 percent of the faith scale."
Vucic has been voted out, but his system is still deeply anchored in the country. For almost 14 years he has consistently expanded his influence in the judiciary, police, administration and media. Many of those working in Serbia's institutions joined Vucic's Progressive Party during this time.
The Zajovic case shows that the old system continues to run even without Vucic at the helm. His lawyer Uros Vranac is waiting for him in front of the courthouse in Novi Sad. For Vranac, Zajovic is not an isolated case - he represents numerous students free of charge and the allegations are similar.
“There is a very obvious intention here to intimidate protest participants and to politically persecute those who think differently,” said the lawyer. "Legally speaking, there is no evidence whatsoever to prove the police's claims. A farce and a disgrace."
From the perspective of Florian Bieber, Professor of Southeast European Studies at the University of Graz, it will be difficult to dismantle Vucic's authoritarian system and transform it into a constitutional democracy with independent courts and freedom of expression and freedom of the press.
“All ministries are deeply permeated by the party and staffed by people who have mainly made propaganda for the party on social media,” says Bieber. "And there are a lot of people who have a lot to lose if the justice system does its job. There will be some resistance." In addition, all municipalities in Serbia are still under the control of Vucic's Progressive Party.
Nevertheless, Bieber believes it is realistic that many people could join a possible new government through the student list. "With the clear victory, it is at least likely that those who were involved in this regime out of opportunism will quickly switch sides."
One who could soon become part of the new government is Jovo Bakic. The sociology professor is currently working at the University of Belgrade. He has never sat in parliament and is nevertheless already being discussed as a possible interior minister.
Already on election night it was clear to him what kind of task awaited him. While the euphoria around him rises to boundless levels, he celebrates his election victory rather cautiously. And has been thinking about what lies ahead ever since. "We must fight organized crime. We must prosecute all criminals in the government and restore justice," he says.
Justice is also at stake for Lazar Zajovic in Novi Sad. He is acquitted that day. After the verdict, he lies in his arms with his girlfriend Marija. “I feel like a free person,” he says.
