Serbia has submitted a response to the United Nations regarding the alleged use of acoustic weapons during the protest on March 15, confirmed to Insajder by the Belgrade Centre for Human Rights (BCHR), which stated that the response contains no new information not already available to the public and denies the use of sound weapons.
The BCHR adds that on Friday, June 7, they were informed that Serbia had sent a response to UN special rapporteurs.
“According to the information available to us, the response does not state new facts compared to those already known to the public. Regarding the obligation to conduct an investigation, the state referred to the actions of the competent public prosecutor’s offices, without providing additional data on the course and content of those proceedings,” states the BCHR.
According to available information, Serbia’s response denies the use of acoustic weapons during the protest but adds that requests for cooperation have been sent to the security services of Russia and the United States of America to clarify the circumstances of the incident.
The BCHR states that they expect UN special rapporteurs, after analyzing Serbia’s response, to present any recommendations for improving human rights protection in similar situations.
Two days ago, the Centre announced that UN special rapporteurs had publicly presented communication with requests sent to the Serbian government on March 18, following the event in Belgrade when, as they stated, at 7:11 PM “a peaceful gathering of a large number of citizens was interrupted by the alleged use of sound weapons.”
A total of six UN special rapporteurs requested additional information and comments from Serbia, including measures taken by the state to conduct a “prompt, impartial, independent, and effective investigation.” Authorities were also asked for data on the legal basis for the use of such devices, any prior authorizations, command responsibility, as well as the type and number of injuries recorded during the incident.
The letter from the UN rapporteurs expressed concern that Serbia’s international human rights obligations, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Convention against Torture, might have been violated. They particularly highlighted possible failures in protecting citizens who were peacefully protesting.
“The use of acoustic weapons, especially in the context of a peaceful assembly, carries serious risks – from permanent hearing damage to causing panic and stampedes. Due to its indiscriminate nature, its effects can impact both demonstrators and passersby, which further complicates the legality of its use,” warned the UN document, which was published 60 days after it was sent to the Serbian authorities.
The special rapporteurs state that they possess evidence indicating the use of a device that caused mass panic, which would be contrary to international precautionary principles. Concern was also expressed about the increasing restrictions on the right to peaceful assembly in Serbia.
The incident occurred at a moment when gathered citizens were silently paying tribute to the victims of the railway station accident in Novi Sad. If the use of sound weapons in that context is confirmed, UN rapporteurs emphasize that it would represent “a particularly cruel and disproportionate intervention.”
Six civil society organizations – BCHR, CRTA, Civic Initiatives, Initiative A11, FemPlatz, and YUCOM – addressed UN special procedures after the protest, while the European Court of Human Rights on April 30 issued an interim measure ordering Serbia to refrain from using these devices until further notice.
In April, a criminal complaint for terrorism was also filed against unknown perpetrators with the Prosecutor’s Office for Organized Crime, and the First Basic Public Prosecutor’s Office in Belgrade is conducting a pre-investigative procedure in which more than 150 statements have been taken from citizens who attended the protest.
MORE TOPICS:
ANGELA AND ANDREJ FINISH TREATMENT IN SERBIA: Injured in the Kočani fire return home!
ALEKSANDRA KRUNIĆ GOING FOR THE TITLE: Serbian and Kazakhstani in the Roland Garros final!
Source: N1 Photo: Shutterstock/lev radin