In Belgrade, there have been claims of using a military-grade sonic weapon on protesters, which Serbian officials have adamantly rejected. The accusation comes from opposition factions and Serbian human rights organizations who allege the deployment of a banned acoustic device at a massive demonstration on Saturday. They argue that the device, designed to incapacitate individuals temporarily, was utilized to disperse and terrify the crowd. Consequently, these groups plan to take legal action both domestically and with the European Court of Human Rights against those responsible for the alleged incident.
Despite these accusations, Serbia has admitted to possessing such an acoustic device, yet has not acknowledged its use during the protest. The demonstration saw over 100,000 people gather in Belgrade, marking a peak in ongoing protests against President Aleksandar Vucic’s leadership—a campaign that began after a November incident where a canopy collapse at a northern train station resulted in 15 fatalities. The nationwide protests, sparked by the tragedy, point to grievances over government corruption, negligence, and unsafe construction practices, with the public demanding justice and accountability.
During the protest, video evidence revealed a period of silence in homage to the train station victims, which was interrupted by a loud rushing sound, inciting fear and causing a temporary stampede. According to witnesses and attendees, they experienced sudden ear pain and disorientation—the notorious effects of acoustic weapons—though Serbian police and the defense ministry have dismissed these allegations. In response, the Belgrade Centre for Security Policy strongly criticized the supposed “unlawful and inhumane” use of these devices against peaceful demonstrators, interpreting it as an effort to incite disorder and criminalize peaceful protestors.
President Vucic has publicly urged legal authorities to examine the claims about the use of sonic cannons, as reported by national media. He stated, “I am asking… the ministry of justice and the prosecutor’s office to react, either to prosecute those who used it, and we know they didn’t but let’s check.” Simultaneously, Belgrade’s emergency hospital refuted the reports of mass treatments following the incident and called for legal consequences for those disseminating allegedly false information.
