Who Is Zoran Đajić

Zoran Đajić is a Serbian geological engineer who became widely known as an expert witness and public commentator on the circumstances surrounding the reconstruction of the Novi Sad railway station and the tragedy that occurred there on November 1, 2024. Before becoming a recognizable face in media coverage of accountability for the canopy collapse, Zoran Đajić spent decades building a career in geology and the stone industry, and he is also known as the founder of a professional association dedicated to the use of stone in architecture, construction, and art. Zoran Đajić's path from stone expert to one of the most recognizable figures in the public debate over accountability for the Novi Sad tragedy makes his biography an example of how one individual's professional expertise can become part of a much broader societal discussion.

Early Life and Childhood

Zoran Đajić was born on March 20, 1955, in Nova Varoš, then part of the Federal People's Republic of Yugoslavia, today the Republic of Serbia. He completed elementary school and gymnasium (secondary school) in Arilje. Information about his earliest childhood, family background, and upbringing is not widely available in public sources, so most of what is known about the early period of his life relies on brief biographical notes published during his later media involvement, when the public first took a serious interest in his professional path.

Education

After finishing gymnasium in Arilje, Zoran Đajić enrolled in 1974 at the Faculty of Mining and Geology of the University of Belgrade, on the regional geology and paleontology track. This choice of field shaped his entire later professional path, oriented first toward geological research and later toward the practical application of geological knowledge in the field of stone as a construction and artistic material. After completing his studies, Đajić worked for three years as a research associate at the same faculty, gaining additional experience in teaching and research before moving into industry.

Early Career

After his time as an associate at the Faculty of Mining and Geology, Zoran Đajić took a job at Geozavod, one of the leading geological institutions in the former Yugoslavia. He spent most of the 1990s there, until, as he later stated in the media, he resigned in 1993 during a period of hyperinflation, when his salary amounted to only a few German marks. That period of economic crisis marked a turning point in his career, after which he increasingly turned to independent work in the field of stone, an activity he has, by his own account, pursued since 1986.

Work in the Stone Industry and Founding an Association

Zoran Đajić founded the association "Kamen Srbije" ("Stone of Serbia"), which today operates under the name "Kamena kolonija" ("Stone Colony"), dedicated to promoting the use of stone in architecture, construction, and art. As part of this work, Đajić is the coordinator of the Stone Expo Serbia fair project, organized in cooperation with the Belgrade Fair. During this fair, in addition to the exhibition component, creative colonies are organized in which participants create works of art from stone, and one edition of the event featured the exhibition Light in Stone.

Đajić also organized a sculpture colony called Petrified Memories, part of an exhibition program dedicated to stone in architecture and art, held at the "Josip Bepo Benković" gallery in Herceg Novi. This event was dedicated to the artists Luka Tomanović and Borislav Nježić, and Đajić's intention was for the colony to mark the beginning of a traditional stone-carving school in that city. In public appearances, Zoran Đajić has also advocated for preserving traditional Serbian gravestones in the shape of a cross, rather than the black slabs he says are ubiquitous today, arguing that the cross is a fundamental symbol of Orthodox Christian funerary monuments.

Scientific and Professional Work

In addition to his practical work in the stone industry, Zoran Đajić is the author and co-author of several professional and scientific papers in the fields of geology and archaeology. Among them is a paper on the stone used in the construction of the Manasija Monastery, written in collaboration with Jelena Markov, Milan Košćal, and Ilija Đoković. He is also a co-author of a paper on Paleozoic and older Paleozoic planktonic palynomorphs of western Serbia, together with Slavica Đajić and Ilija Đoković. According to available sources, his name also appears among the authors of a paper published in the journal Srpski arhiv za celokupno lekarstvo (Serbian Archive of Medicine) in 2002, on the risk of rupture and natural outcome of unruptured intracranial aneurysms, although the precise nature of his contribution to that paper is not clearly explained in publicly available sources.

Involvement in the Reconstruction of the Novi Sad Railway Station

A significant part of Zoran Đajić's professional career is linked to the reconstruction, extension, and adaptation of the Novi Sad railway station building. Đajić was engaged to provide expert consulting supervision over the stone-cutting works on that project, working as a stone consultant in cooperation with the CIP Transport Institute, which was responsible for the design work. According to his own statements, he was invited to oversee the works from the very first day, given his experience with stone dating back to 1986 and his own "Kamen Srbije" project.

During the supervision, Đajić stated that he did not allow the installation of any material other than what was specified, and that stone slabs that were removed but not damaged were reinstalled in the same location, with the same dimensions and color. According to available sources, he worked on the project until March 2023, although some sources state that his engagement lasted until June 2023 — sources differ on this detail. Already during the works, Đajić later said, he noticed that the backing of the marble slabs on the station roof was in poor condition, and he requested that the slabs be removed and a detailed inspection carried out.

The Tragedy at the Railway Station and His Public Testimony

On November 1, 2024, at 11:52 a.m., the canopy above the main entrance of the newly reconstructed Novi Sad railway station collapsed. According to reports, 14 people were killed on the spot in the collapse itself, while three others were severely injured. In the following months, the death toll rose to 16, as two more people later died from their injuries. The tragedy triggered a strong social and political reaction in Serbia, including the resignation of several officials and a series of protests.

Zoran Đajić spoke publicly as early as the day after the tragedy, pointing to possible corruption as one of the causes of the canopy collapse and pointing to the responsibility of the government at the time, as well as certain subcontractors. When the then Minister of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure, Goran Vesić, stated that no work had been carried out on the canopy, Đajić publicly challenged that claim, saying he had photographs showing that the backing of the marble slabs was already in poor condition during the reconstruction, and that the canopy had subsequently been covered with additional glass. He also published an open letter with seven questions addressed to the relevant institutions, asking who had carried out the roof insulation work and who bore responsibility for the accident. Because of these statements, Đajić became one of the few experts who consistently and publicly demanded that responsibility for the tragedy be established, frequently appearing in media outlets critical of the government, as well as in international media such as Deutsche Welle.

Arrest and Legal Proceedings

In April 2025, Zoran Đajić was arrested on reasonable suspicion of having committed the criminal offense of endangering security. According to a statement from the Ministry of Interior, he is suspected of having posted a message on the social network X, under the profile name "djajiczoran," on April 10, 2025, stating that he advocated for the public to vote in favor of introducing the death penalty for Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić. Đajić was arrested in the evening of April 15 in Belgrade, after being spotted at one of the student protests, and was held for 48 hours.

The Higher Public Prosecutor's Office in Belgrade requested that the court order his detention, charging him under Article 138, paragraph 3 of the Criminal Code, relating to endangering the security of the President of the state. However, the pre-trial judge of the Higher Court in Belgrade rejected the prosecution's proposal, ruling instead that Đajić could defend himself while at liberty. His lawyer, Branko Rogošić, stated that in the disputed post Đajić had, in fact, been proposing a lawful change to the legal system — namely the introduction of the death penalty in Serbia — rather than making a direct threat. Following this event, Đajić continued to speak publicly about the Novi Sad tragedy and the question of institutional accountability.

Personal Life

Zoran Đajić lives in Belgrade and has two children. His daughter, Jovana, was, according to available sources, the one who informed his lawyer of his arrest in April 2025. There is no broader publicly available information about other aspects of Zoran Đajić's personal life, since he appears in public primarily in the context of his professional and public activities rather than his private life.

Trivia

• Zoran Đajić has worked with stone since 1986, nearly a decade before he left his job at Geozavod.
• He is the president of the association once known as "Kamen Srbije," which today operates as "Kamena kolonija."
• He has advocated for the traditional cross-shaped gravestone as a symbol of Orthodox funerary tradition.
• Although a geologist by profession, he is best known publicly for his involvement in the stone-cutting works on one of Serbia's most significant infrastructure projects in recent years.
• Following the Novi Sad tragedy, his name was frequently mentioned in the media alongside the description of "the engineer who was the first to point out irregularities" in the station's reconstruction.

Awards and Recognition

Publicly available sources contain no information indicating that Zoran Đajić has received formal professional awards or recognition in the fields of geology or the stone industry. His public visibility stems primarily from his media involvement in the Novi Sad tragedy rather than from official professional accolades, and this aspect of his biography cannot be further substantiated based on available data.

Legacy and Influence

Zoran Đajić's influence on public life in Serbia is linked above all to the period following November 2024, when his testimony about the circumstances of the Novi Sad railway station's reconstruction contributed to greater public understanding of the possible causes of the tragedy. His public advocacy for establishing accountability became part of a broader social movement that followed the canopy collapse, marked by numerous protests and demands for institutional responsibility. Regardless of how the ongoing legal proceedings related to the tragedy develop further, Zoran Đajić's biography remains an example of a situation in which one engineer's professional experience became part of a wider debate about accountability, transparency, and safety in construction.

Biography – Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Zoran Đajić?

Zoran Đajić is a Serbian geological engineer, born in 1955, known for his long career in the stone industry and for his public involvement following the tragedy at the Novi Sad railway station.

When and where was Zoran Đajić born?

Zoran Đajić was born on March 20, 1955, in Nova Varoš.

What did Zoran Đajić study?

Zoran Đajić graduated from the Faculty of Mining and Geology of the University of Belgrade, on the regional geology and paleontology track, which he enrolled in in 1974.

What did Zoran Đajić do before his involvement in Novi Sad?

He worked as an associate at the Faculty of Mining and Geology, then at Geozavod until 1993, and has worked with stone as a material in architecture, construction, and art since 1986.

What role did Zoran Đajić have in the reconstruction of the Novi Sad railway station?

He was engaged to provide expert consulting supervision over the stone-cutting works during the reconstruction, extension, and adaptation of the station building.

Why did Zoran Đajić become known after the Novi Sad tragedy?

He publicly disputed claims by certain officials that no work had been done on the canopy, and pointed to possible irregularities, which made him one of the most visible public voices demanding accountability.

Why was Zoran Đajić arrested in 2025?

He was arrested on suspicion of having committed the criminal offense of endangering security, following a post on the social network X in which he referenced Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić and the death penalty.

Was Zoran Đajić placed in detention?

No. The court rejected the prosecution's request for detention and ruled that Đajić could defend himself while at liberty.

Is Zoran Đajić still active in public life?

Yes, Zoran Đajić continues to speak publicly about questions of accountability for the Novi Sad tragedy and related topics.

Conclusion

Zoran Đajić's biography traces the path of an expert who spent most of his career in geology and the stone industry, only to find himself, through circumstances tied to the reconstruction of the Novi Sad railway station, at the center of one of the most significant social debates in Serbia in recent years. From his studies at the Faculty of Mining and Geology, through founding an association dedicated to stone, to his role as a consultant on a major infrastructure project and his later public testimony about a tragedy that claimed 16 lives, Zoran Đajić has built a biography marked by a combination of professional work and public engagement. His case continues to attract public and judicial attention, both regarding accountability for the Novi Sad tragedy and regarding his own legal situation following his arrest in April 2025.