On March 15, Belgrade became the stage of one of the largest civic mobilizations in Serbia in recent decades. Tens of thousands of citizens, led by students, came together in a powerful expression of resistance, demanding justice, accountability, and an end to systemic misgovernance. The protest was sparked by the tragic collapse of the newly renovated train station canopy in Novi Sad, which claimed 16 lives. Yet, what began as a peaceful gathering to honor victims and demand change, ended in distress, injuries, and panic — with Serbian authorities now accused of deploying a sonic weapon against its own citizens.
In response to the growing repression and attacks on civil society, in early March, BCSDN and the European Civic Forum (ECF) initiated a Letter of Solidarity, joined by 130+ civil society organizations across the continent. The statement raised alarm over intensifying state actions against critical voices and reaffirmed unwavering support for Serbian citizens and civil society resisting authoritarianism.
Since the publication of the statement, the situation has worsened.
What Happened on March 15
During the student-led gathering in Belgrade, a 15-minute silence was held to commemorate the victims of the Novi Sad tragedy. At the 11th minute, a powerful shockwave and high-pitched sound — suspected to have come from a Long-Range Acoustic Device (LRAD) or similar sonic weapon — triggered chaos in the crowd. Protesters reported symptoms including nausea, disorientation, hearing damage, fainting, and in some cases, seizures and heart-related complications.
Eyewitness accounts, videos, and independent investigations suggest the sonic disturbance originated from the area near the Presidency building. Despite growing public concern and over 100 reports of medical symptoms consistent with exposure to such a device, Serbian authorities initially denied any wrongdoing. However, they later admitted that an LRAD was indeed present on the streets of Belgrade on 15 March — while insisting it was not deployed as a “sound cannon” against protesters. No investigation into the incident has been launched to date.
Evidence gathered by the organization Earshot, specialized in audio forensic investigations, matched the sound to that produced by a Vortex Ring Gun — a device explicitly excluded from legal police use in Serbia. Although such equipment was proposed in a 2022 draft law, it was rejected following civil society protests. If confirmed, the deliberate deployment of such a device would constitute a serious breach of Serbian Police Law, while the intentional use of tactics designed to instill fear and panic represents a flagrant violation of international human rights standards.
A Worrying Pattern of State Violence and Intimidation
Other concerning incidents surrounding the protest include: a physical attack on a lawyer representing arrested protesters, the arrest and deportation of Montenegrin politician Ivan Vuković, the denial of entry to two foreign journalists, a pre-protest car attack on demonstrators in Žarkovo, and violent disruptions near the Pioneer Park and National Assembly, among others. Despite these developments showing the escalation of the government’s repression, Serbia’s public broadcaster, RTS 1, downplayed the events, failing to report on the sonic incident or the early termination of the protest due to safety concerns.
In the aftermath of the protest, human rights groups including BCSDN member Civic Initiatives began collecting testimonies and offering legal aid. Activists and eyewitnesses have since reported intimidation, surveillance, and threats of prosecution under the pretext of “inciting panic.” Meanwhile, international and domestic civil society actors are raising the alarm about the use of fear tactics to silence dissent and suppress freedom of assembly.
United in Resistance, Calling for Action
In light of these disturbing developments, Serbian civil society has issued a powerful appeal (download here) urging international civil society and institutions to stand in solidarity with students, activists, and citizens who are bravely resisting authoritarian backsliding.
BCSDN joins this call and reiterates our condemnation of the systematic intimidation of Serbia’s civil society, including the recent police raids on NGO offices and attacks on academia and critical voices. We continue to stand with our members and partners in Serbia, who show remarkable courage in the face of repression.
Our Demands to the EU and International Community
We call on the EU to:
- Publicly condemn the Serbian government’s escalating repression of civil society and peaceful protest.
- Demand an independent and transparent investigation into the incidents of March 15.
- Condition Serbia’s EU integration process on meaningful reforms that safeguard civic space, human rights, and the rule of law.
- Support local civil society with political backing, protection mechanisms, and funding, to ensure they are not left isolated in their fight for democracy.
As the largest civic mobilization in decades continues to grow across Serbia — reaching 300-400 cities and towns — the courage of the Serbian people inspires us all. Their fight is not just for national accountability but for the shared values of democracy, transparency, and justice that underpin Europe itself.
Now is the time for the EU and international actors to show that they stand not with regimes, but with the people. Solidarity must be followed by action.