Saturday, March 15
The civil society organizations’ call center opened at 11 a.m. Not a single phone rang throughout the day.
Despite rain that fell almost all day, the streets of Belgrade https://www.instagram.com/crta.rs/reel/DHOTlQwq7aV/ were full of people.
Despite rain that fell almost all day, the streets of Belgrade https://www.instagram.com/crta.rs/reel/DHOTlQwq7aV/ were full of people.
15 minutes of silence at 7pm
Silence echoed through downtown Belgrade, while phone flashlights resembled an endless starry sky. At 7:11 p.m., the silence was abruptly broken.
On Kralja Milana Street, gathered citizens suddenly split apart at great speed to both sides, moving away from an extremely unpleasant sound wave, frightened that some kind of machinery was about to run them over.
On Kralja Milana Street, gathered citizens suddenly split apart at great speed to both sides, moving away from an extremely unpleasant sound wave, frightened that some kind of machinery was about to run them over.
9.30 pm
The phones at the civil society organizations’ call center began ringing incessantly. Citizens who had been in Kralja Milana Street called in. The calls continued in the following days. Around 4,000 citizens shared their experiences, describing feelings of panic as well as physical injuries they had suffered.
More than 3,000 anonymized testimonies are publicly available at the platform zvuk.labs.rs.
More than 3,000 anonymized testimonies are publicly available at the platform zvuk.labs.rs.
State denies everything
That same evening, the President of Serbia denied that anything had happened, clearly suggesting that citizens had imagined the attack. The same message continued from the top in the following days.
What are civil society organisations doing?
All citizens who contacted us were first advised to seek medical attention in order to obtain medical documentation, which is important for initiating legal proceedings.
At the same time, we contacted independent experts to determine what could have caused the incident and the consequences experienced by a large number of citizens.
At the same time, we contacted independent experts to determine what could have caused the incident and the consequences experienced by a large number of citizens.
Independent experts issue preliminary opinions that citizens did not imagine anything, contrary to state spin
Based on four recordings from the scene, sound experts from the nonprofit organization EarShot preliminarily assessed
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DHTkhQpodxa/?igsh=cHN4eDBnOGlweTdj
that the sound was consistent with one that could have been produced by a Vortex Ring Gun or Vortex Cannon. They analyzed 12 video recordings, some of which they received through CRTA, thanks to citizens who shared their footage with us.
Professor of social psychology Clifford Stott from Keele University in the UK reviewed footage recorded at the moment the silence was interrupted on March 15 and provided the following preliminary opinion https://www.istinomer.rs/analize/profesor-stot-o-prekidu-tisine-nagla-promena-ponasanja-mase-ukazuje-na-prisustvo-spoljasnje-sile/ :
“This is not a psychological process in which a crowd, through mutual imitation, reacts to an imagined threat or false alarm. Rather, the demonstrators’ behavior indicates the effect of an external force or stimulus that requires further investigation.”
Professor of social psychology Clifford Stott from Keele University in the UK reviewed footage recorded at the moment the silence was interrupted on March 15 and provided the following preliminary opinion https://www.istinomer.rs/analize/profesor-stot-o-prekidu-tisine-nagla-promena-ponasanja-mase-ukazuje-na-prisustvo-spoljasnje-sile/ :
“This is not a psychological process in which a crowd, through mutual imitation, reacts to an imagined threat or false alarm. Rather, the demonstrators’ behavior indicates the effect of an external force or stimulus that requires further investigation.”
Protest March 15, Belgrade, Slavija. Photo: CRTA
Organisations address international institutions
Address to the European Court of Human Rights
Given the large number of people who suffered consequences from the action of an unknown device, civil society organizations decided to initiate urgent proceedings before the European Court of Human Rights. The Court typically acts upon applications, and proceedings often take several years to begin. Therefore, this initiative pursued another option, requesting urgent interim measures, which are very rare in the Court’s practice.
On behalf of 47 citizens, a submission was filed on March 24. The very next day, the Court requested that the Republic of Serbia answer questions regarding the possible use of sonic or other weapons at the protest in Belgrade. The state was given a deadline of March 31 to declare whether prohibited means had been used against demonstrators, on what legal basis, and what safeguards exist against their arbitrary use.
In its response, the state denied the use and possession of any sonic or similar weapons. The Court then instructed both the state and civil society organizations to submit comments on each other’s responses by April 8.
In a certain sense, this case represents a precedent. On April 10, the Court decided that the decision would be made by a Chamber of judges rather than by a single judge.
On behalf of 47 citizens, a submission was filed on March 24. The very next day, the Court requested that the Republic of Serbia answer questions regarding the possible use of sonic or other weapons at the protest in Belgrade. The state was given a deadline of March 31 to declare whether prohibited means had been used against demonstrators, on what legal basis, and what safeguards exist against their arbitrary use.
In its response, the state denied the use and possession of any sonic or similar weapons. The Court then instructed both the state and civil society organizations to submit comments on each other’s responses by April 8.
In a certain sense, this case represents a precedent. On April 10, the Court decided that the decision would be made by a Chamber of judges rather than by a single judge.
Address to the United Nations
Since on March 15 there had been an “attack on the life and body” of a large number of citizens, civil society organizations also addressed the United Nations, specifically the UN Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers, as well as rapporteurs responsible for torture, freedom of expression, freedom of assembly, the right to health, and the protection of human rights defenders.
The submission to the United Nations triggered special procedures. It is extremely important that serious human rights violations be internationally recorded and become the subject of institutional attention by the United Nations. This is one of the rare instruments of international law through which pressure can be exerted on a state to respond to allegations of violations of its citizens’ rights.
The submission to the United Nations triggered special procedures. It is extremely important that serious human rights violations be internationally recorded and become the subject of institutional attention by the United Nations. This is one of the rare instruments of international law through which pressure can be exerted on a state to respond to allegations of violations of its citizens’ rights.
Criminal complaint for terrorism
On April 9, civil society organizations filed a criminal complaint with the Prosecutor’s Office for Organized Crime against unidentified persons, on suspicion that on March 15, 2025, they committed the criminal offense of terrorism by using an unidentified dangerous device during a peaceful protest in Belgrade.
Support for citizens giving statements to the First Basic Public Prosecutor’s Office
Just as the President had announced
https://www.021.rs/story/Info/Srbija/404274/Vucic-Vojska-i-Kobre-nemaju-zvucni-top-u-narednih-48-sati-zavrsetak-istrage-o-sirenju-lazi-o-tome.html
, the First Basic Public Prosecutor’s Office in Belgrade concluded
https://www.slobodnaevropa.org/a/protest-beograd-tuzilastvo-zvucni-top/33351699.html
within only two days that none of the police or BIA officers engaged in securing the protest “heard, saw, or used a so-called sound cannon.”
They also concluded that among patients examined between March 15 and 17 there were “no clinical signs of acute acoustic trauma,” nor had “comprehensive diagnostics objectively established any other damage caused by intense, concentrated, high-frequency noise exceeding 100 decibels.”
The Higher Public Prosecutor’s Office in Belgrade instructed the First Basic Public Prosecutor’s Office https://beograd.vjt.rs/saopstenja/saopstenje-803/ to open a case and order the identification of persons who had allegedly spread false information in public about the use of prohibited weapons.
The First Basic Public Prosecutor’s Office later announced that it would continue working to determine the reasons that caused the behavior of citizens on the critical occasion. Civil society organizations are providing legal and other necessary support to citizens who consented to having their documentation submitted to the prosecutor’s office and who are called to give statements.
They also concluded that among patients examined between March 15 and 17 there were “no clinical signs of acute acoustic trauma,” nor had “comprehensive diagnostics objectively established any other damage caused by intense, concentrated, high-frequency noise exceeding 100 decibels.”
The Higher Public Prosecutor’s Office in Belgrade instructed the First Basic Public Prosecutor’s Office https://beograd.vjt.rs/saopstenja/saopstenje-803/ to open a case and order the identification of persons who had allegedly spread false information in public about the use of prohibited weapons.
The First Basic Public Prosecutor’s Office later announced that it would continue working to determine the reasons that caused the behavior of citizens on the critical occasion. Civil society organizations are providing legal and other necessary support to citizens who consented to having their documentation submitted to the prosecutor’s office and who are called to give statements.
Authorities entangled in contradictions
In addition to the President of Serbia, the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Defense, the Gendarmerie, and the BIA also denied the use of prohibited weapons, but provided contradictory information.
Ivica Dačić, Minister of Interior, repeatedly stated that the use of a sound cannon is not in accordance with the law. However, he admitted that his initial statement that “the Ministry of Interior does not have that weapon” https://www.blic.rs/vesti/hronika/oglasio-se-dacic-o-navodima-crte-mup-ne-poseduje-ni-vortex-ring-gun-ni-vortex-cannon/eggnrgl had been clumsy. Footage and photographs of one device appeared in public, mounted on a police vehicle stationed near the National Assembly on March 15, after which the police presented two types of devices from their own arsenal, the LRAD 450XL and LRAD 100X.
The Minister acknowledged that the Ministry possesses sonic devices https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2zj1cC9YTQ purchased in 2021. He first claimed that the devices were stored in warehouses and had not been mounted on any vehicle, but later changed his account, stating that they were loudspeakers used for public announcements at gatherings. He also stated that the Ministry does not possess the American-made LRAD 1000Xi by Genasys, similar weapons by the Russian company Ruselectronics, nor a Vortex Ring Gun or Vortex Cannon.
It is known so far that the state possesses at least 16 sonic devices, LRAD 450XL and LRAD 100X, purchased in 2021, when Aleksandar Vulin was Minister of Police. The use of such devices as means of coercion is not permitted under domestic law, although the authorities attempted to legalize their use through amendments to the Law on Police. It therefore remains unexplained why such illegal means were procured. It also remains unclear whether other state services possess additional similar systems.
Ivica Dačić, Minister of Interior, repeatedly stated that the use of a sound cannon is not in accordance with the law. However, he admitted that his initial statement that “the Ministry of Interior does not have that weapon” https://www.blic.rs/vesti/hronika/oglasio-se-dacic-o-navodima-crte-mup-ne-poseduje-ni-vortex-ring-gun-ni-vortex-cannon/eggnrgl had been clumsy. Footage and photographs of one device appeared in public, mounted on a police vehicle stationed near the National Assembly on March 15, after which the police presented two types of devices from their own arsenal, the LRAD 450XL and LRAD 100X.
The Minister acknowledged that the Ministry possesses sonic devices https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2zj1cC9YTQ purchased in 2021. He first claimed that the devices were stored in warehouses and had not been mounted on any vehicle, but later changed his account, stating that they were loudspeakers used for public announcements at gatherings. He also stated that the Ministry does not possess the American-made LRAD 1000Xi by Genasys, similar weapons by the Russian company Ruselectronics, nor a Vortex Ring Gun or Vortex Cannon.
It is known so far that the state possesses at least 16 sonic devices, LRAD 450XL and LRAD 100X, purchased in 2021, when Aleksandar Vulin was Minister of Police. The use of such devices as means of coercion is not permitted under domestic law, although the authorities attempted to legalize their use through amendments to the Law on Police. It therefore remains unexplained why such illegal means were procured. It also remains unclear whether other state services possess additional similar systems.
Foto: Fonet.
Invitation to foreign intelligence services to investigate the event
The authorities invited the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation and Russia’s Federal Security Service to conduct independent investigations into whether a sound device had been used in Belgrade.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation declined to confirm to the media whether it had received the invitation or whether it would engage in the investigation.
On March 29, the President of Serbia stated that a team from the Federal Security Service had arrived:
“Last night, people from the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation arrived. They started working this morning. They will inspect all the devices we have. To see what, how, and in what way. They will stay here for several days, I think seven or eight days. After that, they will present their position regarding the sound device,” Vučić said in Pionirski Park during a conversation with “students who want to study.”
It remains unclear on what legal basis foreign intelligence services would conduct an investigation in Serbia. The only legal possibility would be that, if proceedings have been initiated for which there is no necessary expertise in the country, foreign nationals or institutions may be invited as expert witnesses under Article 114 of the Criminal Procedure Code. There is still no publicly available information indicating that such proceedings have been initiated.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation declined to confirm to the media whether it had received the invitation or whether it would engage in the investigation.
On March 29, the President of Serbia stated that a team from the Federal Security Service had arrived:
“Last night, people from the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation arrived. They started working this morning. They will inspect all the devices we have. To see what, how, and in what way. They will stay here for several days, I think seven or eight days. After that, they will present their position regarding the sound device,” Vučić said in Pionirski Park during a conversation with “students who want to study.”
It remains unclear on what legal basis foreign intelligence services would conduct an investigation in Serbia. The only legal possibility would be that, if proceedings have been initiated for which there is no necessary expertise in the country, foreign nationals or institutions may be invited as expert witnesses under Article 114 of the Criminal Procedure Code. There is still no publicly available information indicating that such proceedings have been initiated.
Interim measure by the European Court of Human Rights
On April 30, the European Court of Human Rights issued an interim measure
https://x.com/ECHR_CEDH/status/1917532063940415886
ordering the Republic of Serbia to refrain, until further notice, from using sonic devices for the purpose of controlling assembled citizens. This decision followed a request submitted by civil society organizations on behalf of 47 citizens.
