On March 15, 2025, during the largest protest in Serbia’s history, police used a Long Range Acoustic Device (LRAD) to disperse peaceful demonstrators.
Between 275,000 and 325,000 people had gathered at Slavia Square in Belgrade for a 15-minute silent vigil to commemorate 15 people who died after the collapse of a train station canopy in November 2024. The protest was largely student-led and built on months of organizing across Serbian universities following the collapse of the Novi Sad station in November 2024. They coordinated transportation, communication, and the vigil.
During the vigil, a sudden piercing sound triggered panic, causing the people to fall over one another as the crowd dispersed. More than 3,000 people reported having experienced disorientation, a sense of loss of control, and headaches. Earshot, an independent NGO specializing in audio-forensic research, determined that it was highly likely that an LRAD had been used against the protesters. Close to 600,000 people signed the petition to call for an international, independent investigation into the events.
Scholars at Risk is concerned about the use of force against protesters by police, including the alleged use of sonic devices to disperse crowds. Such tactics risk violating the right to peaceful assembly and may deter individuals from exercising their fundamental freedoms. State authorities must respect the freedoms of expression, assembly, and association, and refrain from actions intended to punish, restrict, or deter the peaceful exercise of these rights.
Sources:
https://apnews.com/article/serbia-sonic-attack-protest-vucic-weapon-214ff2630733b68dd2987e411b405197
https://apnews.com/article/serbia-sonic-device-protest-vucic-e5a6f8c2aad995764c424a6f0d619887
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/mar/15/tensions-mount-in-serbia-as-protesters-converge-on-belgrade
https://europeanwesternbalkans.com/2025/03/20/despite-denials-serbian-govt-proven-to-have-deployed-sonic-devices-on-15-march-protest/
https://youtu.be/o93ZxswYlMs?si=N6JQh0Z2J1jsYecw
https://earshot.ngo/investigations/sonic-attack-on-a-silent-vigil
https://peticije.kreni-promeni.org/petitions/zvucni-top
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/huge-crowds-join-anti-government-rally-belgrade-after-sporadic-violence-2025-03-15/