Serbia Denies Allegations of Sonic Weapon Use During Protests

The Serbian government has firmly rejected claims that its police employed a prohibited 'sonic weapon' to disperse demonstrators in Belgrade. President Aleksandar Vucic characterized the accusations as unfounded and misleading, asserting that he has witnessed the device abroad and confirmed that no such noise was present during the protests on Saturday night.

These allegations arose during a fifteen-minute period of silence observed by protesters, during which many reported experiencing a sudden, loud noise that led to panic within the crowd. Military analyst Aleksandar Radic suggested that the sound could be attributed to a Long Range Acoustic Device (LRAD), often referred to as a sonic weapon, which is designed primarily for incapacitating individuals.

The Belgrade Center for Security Policy, a non-governmental organization, has condemned the alleged use of such a device, describing it as an overt display of force intended to undermine the legitimacy of peaceful protests and criminalize ordinary citizens. They highlighted that deploying such a weapon violates Serbian police regulations.

The protests that took place in Belgrade mark a significant moment in Serbian history, attracting the largest crowds seen in the country to date. While official police estimates reported approximately 100,000 participants, independent observers recorded numbers exceeding 300,000. These demonstrations are the culmination of a prolonged movement led by Serbian students, who are demanding accountability for the tragic deaths of 15 individuals in Novi Sad, where a train station roof collapse occurred.

Beyond the immediate issue of accountability, the protests reflect widespread dissatisfaction with President Vucic's government, spotlighting allegations of corruption, nepotism, mismanagement of natural resources, electoral fraud, media manipulation, and inadequate responses to past incidents involving government officials. In response to the mounting pressure, both Prime Minister Milos Vucevic and the mayor of Novi Sad, Milan Djuric, have already resigned.

The protests are not only a call for justice regarding the recent tragedy but also represent a broader demand for political reform and accountability in a country grappling with deep-seated issues of governance.