**Serbian Ruling Party Bought Train Tickets for Rally**
The ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) spent nearly 1.2 million dinars ($10,500 USD) to rent trains and staff to transport people from Belgrade and Nis to Jagodina for their rally on January 24.
Instead of being at work, many officials and public sector employees from Nis attended the rally in Jagodina. Some even took a one-day vacation specifically for that date. This was reported by local news outlet Juzne Vesti.
**Mayor Says Attendance Was Voluntary**
Nis Mayor Dragoslav Pavlovic said that everyone who attended the rally did so because they “wanted to be” there, and that attendance was entirely voluntary. However, multiple sources suggest that public sector employees were pressured to attend the rally for the formation of a new ruling party’s movement.
**Train Rental Contract**
Srbijavoz, the national passenger railway company, signed an agreement with SNS for transportation on January 24. The deal involved two trains for Belgraders and four for people from Nis. The total contract value was 1,190,000 dinars ($10,500 USD). According to documents provided by Srbijavoz, SNS paid 758,000 dinars for the rental of trains, tickets, and staff.
**Staff Absent on January 24**
Some employees from Nis public institutions and local municipalities were absent from work on January 24. A third of the staff at the Historical Archive (six out of 18) were not at work that day. Four of them had taken a one-day leave specifically for January 24. At the Stevan Sremac National Library, six employees took sick leave on January 24, and one employee used a vacation day.
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