Prosecution of Protesters

Alongside physical violence, Serbia's authorities have used the criminal justice system as a tool against protest participants - filing charges, ordering detentions, and initiating proceedings in ways that track political exposure rather than genuine legal grounds. Charges have been dropped, reduced, or quietly abandoned in many cases, but the process itself has served its purpose: creating a chilling effect on civic mobilization. This section documents who was prosecuted, on what basis, and what the cases reveal about the use of prosecutorial power in Serbia.

July

Interpol notified Serbian authorities that it would not issue international arrest warrants against six of the twelve Novi Sad students and activists charged with preparing acts against the constitutional order, a group that has spent sixteen months abroad in political exile. The organisation, which does not act in matters of a political character, assessed the case as political in nature. The report reached the Higher Court in Novi Sad and the defence, which announced it would again seek to lift the detention and the warrants so the six could return and attend their own trial.

On 17 July 2026, the Ministry of Interior, acting on the order of the Higher Public Prosecutor's Office in Belgrade, filed a criminal complaint against military analyst Aleksandar Radić - who first raised the sound cannon claim in March 2025 - alleging he endangered Serbia's constitutional order and disclosed classified data. Radić left the country on 24 June 2026; prosecutors have requested his detention and an international arrest warrant. His seized communications show a shifting account of the alleged device and contact with MP Zdravko Ponoš.

On 1 July 2026, the Basic Court in Pancevo found ETF student Andrej Tanko guilty of obstructing an official under the Law on Public Order and Peace, sentencing him to a suspended six-month prison term with a two-year probation period. The charge concerned an August 2025 protest during which Tanko allegedly sprayed a police officer with water. His defense called the process politically motivated and announced an appeal to the Higher Court in Pancevo. Tanko became a symbol of non-violent student resistance in December 2024.

Update

Interpol refuses Serbia’s arrest warrants for exiled Novi Sad activists, citing political case

Interpol will not issue international warrants against six students and activists in exile, assessing the case as political - a decision that places Serbia's prosecution in a markedly different context.

Update

Military analyst charged over sound cannon claims, sought after leaving Serbia

Aleksandar Radić, who first claimed a sound cannon was used on protesters, is charged with endangering the constitutional order and leaking secrets; prosecutors want him detained and sought internationally.

Update

Andrej Tanko given suspended sentence, appeal announced

Court in Pančevo convicted ETF student Andrej Tanko of obstructing a police officer during a 2025 protest; his defense calls the verdict politically driven and will appeal.

Update

Targeting the witnesses: prosecutors go after those who spoke out about the sound cannon

Fifteen months after the sound cannon incident at Serbia's largest-ever protest on 15 March 2025, the Higher Public Prosecutor's Office in Belgrade has announced a significant escalation - not against those who allegedly deployed the weapon, but against the protesters, student organizers, doctors, and public figures who reported on it.

Update

Constitutionally guaranteed autonomy of the university under threat

The entry of members of the Criminal Police Directorate (UKP) into the Rectorate of the University of Belgrade is a precedent that raises serious constitutional and criminal procedural questions, and calls into doubt respect for the autonomy of universities guaranteed by the Constitution.

Brief

Escalation of repression and treatment of detainees during August protests

From a warning shot fired by an army officer to reports of abusive treatment of detained protesters,...

Update

Vučić: “Freedom for the heroes, prison for blockader terrorists”

Senior officials are portraying ruling party activists accused of beating students as “heroes,” while framing protest movements and their supporters as terrorists.

Update

Three activists from Novi Sad released from detention after two months

The court has not yet made a final decision regarding the detention of Mladen Cvijetić, Srđan Đurić, and Davor Stefanović, whose cases will now be reassessed.

Update

Student detained for six hours at SNS rally, phone hacked by security services

Ten days after BIRN and Amnesty International published findings on BIA's use of Cellebrite and NoviSpy against activists, a 23-year-old student was detained at the Sava Center during an SNS rally, held for six hours without access to a lawyer, and had his phone unlocked and data extracted without a court order.

CRTA.Plus is part of CRTA’s work to document developments related to democracy, the rule of law, and accountability in Serbia.

Key Issues

Slučajevi

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Slučajevi

Prosecution of Protesters

Interpol declined Serbia’s request to issue international warrants against six exiled Novi Sad activists, assessing the case as political.

Prosecutors charged military analyst Aleksandar Radić with endangering the constitutional order over his sound cannon claims.

A Pancevo court convicts student Andrej Tanko of obstructing a police officer, imposing a suspended sentence.

Interpol refuses Serbia’s arrest warrants for exiled Novi Sad activists, citing political case

Military analyst charged over sound cannon claims, sought after leaving Serbia

Andrej Tanko given suspended sentence, appeal announced

Targeting the witnesses: prosecutors go after those who spoke out about the sound cannon

Constitutionally guaranteed autonomy of the university under threat

Escalation of repression and treatment of detainees during August protests

Vučić: “Freedom for the heroes, prison for blockader terrorists”

Three activists from Novi Sad released from detention after two months

Student detained for six hours at SNS rally, phone hacked by security services