“BRUTAL AND ILLEGAL USE OF FORCE”: Students demand responsibility for the use of a sound cannon at the protest!

“Last night, during the largest protest in the history of Serbia, during the symbolic 15 minutes of silence, illegal weapons known as a ‘sound cannon’ were used. This brutal and illegal use of force caused chaos and panic among the gathered citizens, resulting in dozens of injured people. Many ended up in the Emergency Center, and there are testimonies from citizens whose heart assistance devices stopped working due to the effects of this weapon,” stated the students in the blockade in a statement.

What is a sound cannon and what are its consequences?

A sound cannon (LRAD) is a weapon that uses extremely powerful sound waves to cause pain, disorientation, panic, and physical injuries to those exposed to it. This type of weapon can lead to hearing loss, dizziness, nausea, disorientation, and in people with heart conditions, serious health complications and health consequences.

Evo još jednog ugla "kakav zvučni top, ništa nije bilo" momenta. pic.twitter.com/a1YNcSzUx8
— Biljana Lukić (@BiljanaLuki) March 16, 2025

A sound cannon is illegal in the Republic of Serbia, and its use is not provided for by any law. Despite this, the authorities are now trying to deny its use, claiming that the “drone gun” is on the recordings – although no such weapon is clearly visible in any recording, while the consequences of the attack are very real and documented. By this act, the persons who ordered the use of this weapon knowingly endangered the lives of citizens.

Ivica Dačić, the Minister of Internal Affairs of the Government of the Republic of Serbia in resignation, which still held a session today, must be held accountable. We demand that he urgently answer who made the decision to use this illegal weapon and that all those responsible be prosecuted immediately.

The acting director of the police, Dragan Vasiljević, stated for RTS that the sound cannon was not used by police officers. We ask the question, who did it then last night, given that it is a weapon that many media outlets reported that the Ministry of the Interior procured in 2022.

FIND OUT MORE IN SERBIAN:

We remind the public that at the end of 2022, through the joint action of citizens, the adoption of the controversial draft Law on Internal Affairs was prevented, which, in addition to the introduction of biometric surveillance, provided for the introduction and use of a sound cannon.

The Higher Public Prosecutor’s Office in Belgrade announced that it will prosecute persons for the criminal offense of causing panic and disorder, citing that the Emergency Center denied allegations of caring for dozens of people due to ailments that could have been caused by a sound cannon. We ask the question: is the priority to prosecute those who tell the truth or those who committed this crime?

Before dealing with citizens and journalists who present the facts, the Higher Public Prosecutor’s Office should first discover who ordered and carried out the use of this illegal weapon, who are the direct perpetrators, and who will be held accountable for the injured citizens.

Evo odličnog snimka onoga za šta verujemo da bi mogao biti zvučni top. Pojačajte ton. pic.twitter.com/lhZgVVJAlF
— Stonexman™🚴‍♂️ (@stonexman) March 15, 2025

It’s over when we say it’s over.

We, the students, are horrified by the brutality and inhumanity that the authorities have demonstrated in a desperate attempt to stifle the voice of the people.

They have shown that violence is the only way out they see from the situation they have found themselves in.

What we have to say is that we are here and we will remain peacefully and with dignity until the end. The fight for justice and freedom continues!

It’s over when we say it’s over,” the statement reads.

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Belgrade University Demands Urgent Investigation

The expanded rector’s board of the University of Belgrade today demanded an urgent and transparent investigation into the use of a currently unidentified device by unknown persons against peaceful demonstrators during yesterday’s protest and the fifteen-minute silence tribute to those who died in Novi Sad.

They added that they demand the sanctioning of those responsible and a clear guarantee that all citizens will be able to exercise their right to peaceful assembly without fear of violence.

“Only thanks to the composure of the security guards and the present citizens, a tragedy of greater proportions was avoided,” stated the expanded rector’s board of the University of Belgrade in a statement.

They emphasized that they demand that the competent authorities inform the public without delay whether they possess devices whose effects can cause the manifestations we witnessed.

“If they do not possess and/or use them, we demand an answer – how did the unauthorized procurement and use of these devices and the consequent causing of general danger and endangering of public safety occur?” they stated in the statement.

They concluded that the University of Belgrade will use all available legal means to protect its students and employees, establish responsibility, and prevent future abuses.