Serbian police and prosecutors are investigating the death of a female student found outside the Faculty of Philosophy in Belgrade, focusing on possible failures by university staff, authorities said on Friday.
The student, believed to be around 25 years old, was discovered late on Thursday night on the pavement in front of the faculty building. Police suspect she fell from the fifth floor, while the Higher Public Prosecutor’s Office ordered a full investigation into the circumstances of the incident.
Interior Ministry officials said forensic teams found an open window on the fifth floor, along with traces suggesting that pyrotechnic materials had been ignited inside the building shortly before the fall.
The prosecutor’s office has instructed police to question the dean and other employees of the faculty, examining whether a criminal offence of “negligent performance of duty” may have occurred.
Investigators are also collecting documentation related to security procedures, building access rules, and working hours at the faculty to determine whether safety measures were in line with regulations.
Police director Dragan Vasiljević said officers were interviewing responsible persons at the institution, while anti-corruption units have been involved in the inquiry.
Serbia’s Education Ministry announced an extraordinary inspection, and the national ombudsman has also opened a parallel review into the case.
In a statement, the Faculty of Philosophy expressed condolences to the student’s family and said it was fully cooperating with authorities, calling the incident “an extremely difficult moment” for staff and students.
The tragedy has also prompted criticism of sensationalist media coverage, with press watchdogs urging outlets to respect the family’s privacy and avoid unverified claims or political interpretations.