Former Minister Zorana Mihajlović Interrogated in Railway Canopy Collapse Investigation
Mihajlović interviewed regarding the fatal incident at the Novi Sad railway station that resulted in 16 deaths.
Zorana Mihajlović, the former Minister of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure of Serbia, was interrogated by the Public Prosecutor's Office for Organized Crime in connection with the collapse of a canopy at the Novi Sad Railway Station on November 1, 2024, which resulted in the deaths of 16 individuals and left one person severely injured.
According to the Public Prosecutor's Office, Mihajlović was questioned as a civilian in the offices of the Organized Crime Service, in the presence of an organized crime prosecutor.
In a statement to the media, Mihajlović clarified that her interrogation was unrelated to the specifics of the canopy collapse.
She stated that she had discussed various projects, including the significant reconstruction and modernization project for the railway line connecting Belgrade and Budapest with the authorities.
Mihajlović emphasized that the discussions revolved around the negotiation processes and contract finalizations with foreign partners for this railway project.
She expressed concern over circulating rumors and false reports regarding the nature of her questioning, asserting, "I want to prevent speculation and misinformation.
This was my statement concerning the conversation I had with the police as a citizen, and we talked about all projects."
Mihajlović highlighted the professionalism of the individuals involved in the Ministry of Transport and other related institutions, insisting that they adhered to appropriate procedures and legal frameworks during negotiation processes.
"The best people were working at the Ministry of Transport and Construction and Infrastructure, and they negotiated in accordance with procedures and laws," she stated.
In providing further context, she reflected on the extensive efforts made by all those involved in the infrastructure projects, noting their dedication to tangible results.
"We lived for the projects we created and implemented, leading to successful developments in roads, railways, and airports," she said.
The Higher Court in Novi Sad has recently extended house arrest and prison detention for the individuals accused in conjunction with the canopy collapse incident.
The pretrial chamber of the Higher Court announced that electronic monitoring measures for defendants Jelena Tanasković and Anita Dimoski were extended for three months.
Additionally, custody was prolonged by 30 days for defendants Nebojša Šurlan, Slobodan Naumović, Ljiljana Milić Marković, Marina Gavrilović, Dejan Todorović, Milan Jelkić, Zorica Slavković Marjanović, Dušan Janković, Milan Spremić, and Jasna Stojiljković Milić.
The parties involved retain the right to appeal these decisions to the Appellate Court in Novi Sad.
Goran Vesić, the former Minister of Construction, is currently not in custody.
According to the Public Prosecutor's Office, Mihajlović was questioned as a civilian in the offices of the Organized Crime Service, in the presence of an organized crime prosecutor.
In a statement to the media, Mihajlović clarified that her interrogation was unrelated to the specifics of the canopy collapse.
She stated that she had discussed various projects, including the significant reconstruction and modernization project for the railway line connecting Belgrade and Budapest with the authorities.
Mihajlović emphasized that the discussions revolved around the negotiation processes and contract finalizations with foreign partners for this railway project.
She expressed concern over circulating rumors and false reports regarding the nature of her questioning, asserting, "I want to prevent speculation and misinformation.
This was my statement concerning the conversation I had with the police as a citizen, and we talked about all projects."
Mihajlović highlighted the professionalism of the individuals involved in the Ministry of Transport and other related institutions, insisting that they adhered to appropriate procedures and legal frameworks during negotiation processes.
"The best people were working at the Ministry of Transport and Construction and Infrastructure, and they negotiated in accordance with procedures and laws," she stated.
In providing further context, she reflected on the extensive efforts made by all those involved in the infrastructure projects, noting their dedication to tangible results.
"We lived for the projects we created and implemented, leading to successful developments in roads, railways, and airports," she said.
The Higher Court in Novi Sad has recently extended house arrest and prison detention for the individuals accused in conjunction with the canopy collapse incident.
The pretrial chamber of the Higher Court announced that electronic monitoring measures for defendants Jelena Tanasković and Anita Dimoski were extended for three months.
Additionally, custody was prolonged by 30 days for defendants Nebojša Šurlan, Slobodan Naumović, Ljiljana Milić Marković, Marina Gavrilović, Dejan Todorović, Milan Jelkić, Zorica Slavković Marjanović, Dušan Janković, Milan Spremić, and Jasna Stojiljković Milić.
The parties involved retain the right to appeal these decisions to the Appellate Court in Novi Sad.
Goran Vesić, the former Minister of Construction, is currently not in custody.
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