Civil society organisations including: Belgrade Centre for Human Rights, Civic Initiatives, Committee of Lawyers for Human Rights – YUCOM, Initiative A 11, FemPlatz and CRTA announced that by noon on Monday, March 17 2025, they had received more than 3,000 testimonies from Serbian citizens regarding the events that unfolded on March 15, 2025, in Belgrade’s city centre, from Slavija Square to Terazije and in the surrounding streets, during the 15 minutes of silence that started at 7 p.m.
Collection of testimonials
Civil society organisations also announced that in their discussion with the State Police, UKP, their representatives made a recommendation for the First Basic Public Prosecutor’s Office in Belgrade to publicly invite citizens to contribute for establishing the truth about what happened, particularly with regards to the tools used during the fifteen-minute silence.
Citizens should be invited to directly contact the prosecutor’s office and – if they are willing to – submit video recordings of the event, their testimonies and medical documentation documenting injuries – both from the stomping and from the effects of an unknown device or technology.
“In our conversation with the State Police, UKP, we learnt that they had been told by the assigned prosecutor that in order to take further action in this case, they will need the direct testimonies of the victims” the organisations have said.
The organisation ProGlas demand an investigation into the use of unidentified weapons against peaceful citizens’ demonstrations
“The use of an unidentified weapon, which is suspected to be a sound cannon, represents an attack on the health and safety, political rights and freedoms of the citizens of Serbia,” the organisation ProGlas said in a statement.
“Since the use of such weapons is prohibited by the laws of the Republic of Serbia and thus represents an attack on the constitutional order, ProGlas demand an urgent and comprehensive investigation into the illegal use of an unidentified weapon suspected to be a sound cannon, into the chain of command that led to such drastic lawlessness that threatened the lives, health and safety of a large number of citizens, as well as into the circumstances under which the Ministry of Internal Affairs, MUP, acquired weapons that are prohibited under the laws of the Republic of Serbia and the laws of most European countries” reads the statement.
Civil society organisations protect citizens’ anonymity
Civil society organisations have expressed their gratitude to Serbian citizens for the trust and willingness they have shown them. Citizens have come forward and have been sharing their direct experiences and testimonies of the sudden interruption to the 15-minute silence, for the victims of the fall of the canopy in Novi Sad, which caused a great deal of anxiety on Sat March 15.
“We note that in our discussion with the police, in order to protect privacy and prevent information leaks, no personal data of citizens was revealed or forwarded to state authorities. It is also important to bear in mind that we were contacted also by those who wanted to remain anonymous or were simply willing to tell us what happened, but did not agree to their personal data being recorded” organisations have said.
According to these organisations’ assessment, for the purposes of proceeding in this case, it is necessary for the competent prosecution to invite citizens, without delay, to submit information relevant to establishing the facts of what exactly happened, while guaranteeing their protection and confidentiality. Civil society organisations say that, as has been the case with their work so far, they will continue to respect, protect and defend human rights and will not betray the trust shown by Serbia’s citizens.
The police say “we didn’t”, Brnabić says “the Dean of the Faculty of Political Sciences is spreading misinformation”
“Police Minister Ivica Dačić, as well as a senior officer of the Serbian Army, strongly denied the use of any weapons or devices that would cause such damage during demonstrations by security forces,” reports BBC Serbia.
“President Brnabić reiterated that the University of Belgrade issued a statement about the alleged use of a sound cannon, which, as she pointed out, was nothing more than an attempt at alarming the public and spreading panic, and pointed out that someone must be held accountable for that,” reports Tanjug.rs “The investigation will be fully completed within 48 hours, and then all responsible for fabricating these lies and accusations will be held accountable under the full power of the law,” Vučić said in a video address on Instagram, as reported by Radio Slobodna Evropa.
Translated from Serbian by M.J.
