Latest news with #BelgradeCentreforSecurityPolicy
Russia Today
18-03-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
Serbian protesters claim police used ‘acoustic weapons'
The Serbian authorities have called for an investigation and prosecution of those responsible for spreading misinformation after opposition leaders and a foreign-funded NGO accused security forces of using sound cannons against protesters in Belgrade. More than 80,000 people took part in an anti-government protest on Saturday, described as one of the largest in Serbia's recent history. Videos from the rally show protesters reacting to a sudden whooshing sound, triggering a brief stampede as the crowd moved away from the center of the road. However, the demonstrators soon returned, visibly puzzled but seemingly unharmed. The opposition Freedom and Justice Party (SSP) accused security forces of deploying a Long Range Acoustic Device (LRAD), a crowd-control sound cannon that emits high-frequency sounds exceeding 160 decibels and can cause pain and disorientation. People are theorizing that sonic weapons were used against protestors in Serbia. Can't really tell what's happening - just looks like a massive stampede to you seen this?🎯 The Belgrade Centre for Security Policy (BCSP), a Soros-backed and USAID-funded non-governmental organization, issued a statement on Sunday condemning 'the unlawful and inhumane deployment of prohibited weapons, such as acoustic devices, against peaceful protesters.' The Serbian authorities have denied using any form of sonic weaponry. The Ministry of Internal Affairs stated that there is no evidence to support the claims, calling them 'an attempt to destabilize the country.' Government officials insist that law enforcement acted within the law and maintained order without excessive force. Addressing the public on Saturday, President Aleksandar Vucic dismissed the opposition's accusations, saying a real sonic cannon 'beeps so eerily, it causes such nausea and vomiting that you can't recover from it for days.' 'Just so you know what kind of lies we're talking about… I am asking the Ministry of Justice and the prosecutor's office to react – either to prosecute those who used it, and we know they didn't, but let's check,' Vucic said on Sunday. Let there be a proceeding, but then they should also prosecute those who went public with such a blatant lie. An emergency hospital in Belgrade denied reports that large numbers of people sought medical assistance after the incident, also urging legal action against those who 'spread untrue information.' The protests followed months of student-led demonstrations over alleged corruption and government mismanagement, sparked by a fatal accident at the Novi Sad railway station in November 2024. Vucic has claimed the demonstrations are politically motivated and aimed at destabilizing Serbia. In a social media post on Sunday, he praised the police and military for handling the unrest 'without raising a baton' and thanked them for preserving peace and stability.
NBC News
17-03-2025
- Politics
- NBC News
Sonic weapons not used to attack thousands of protestors, Serbia says
An Associated Press photographer at the scene said people started scrambling for cover, leaving the middle of the downtown street almost empty as they started falling over each other. Those exposed to the weapon experience sharp ear pain, disorientation and panic, military experts say. Prolonged exposure can cause eardrum ruptures and irreversible hearing damage. The Belgrade Centre for Security Policy, a non-governmental organization, condemned 'the unlawful and inhumane deployment of prohibited weapons, such as acoustic devices, against peaceful protesters.' 'This act represents a blatant display of force and an attempt to incite chaos, aiming to delegitimize protests and criminalize peaceful citizens,' the group said. Serbian police and the defense ministry denied that the illegal weapon was used. The Serbian president on Sunday urged judicial authorities to respond to the information 'that sonic cannons were used during the protests,' the state RTS broadcaster reported. 'I am asking … the ministry of justice and the prosecutor's office to react, either to prosecute those who used it, and we know they didn't but let's check,' Vucic said. 'Let there be a proceeding but then they should also prosecute those who went public with such a notorious lie.' Belgrade's emergency hospital has denied reports that many people sought help after the incident and urged legal action against those who 'spread untrue information.'
Russia Today
17-03-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
Serbia protesters claim police used ‘acoustic weapons'
Serbian authorities have called for an investigation and prosecution of those responsible for spreading misinformation after opposition leaders and a foreign-funded NGO accused security forces of using sound cannons against protesters in Belgrade. More than 80,000 people took part in an anti-government protest on Saturday, described as one of the largest in Serbia's recent history. Multiple video clips from the rally showed protesters reacting to a sudden whooshing sound, triggering a brief stampede as the crowd moved away from the center of the road. However, the demonstrators soon returned, visibly puzzled but seemingly unharmed. The opposition Freedom and Justice Party (SSP) accused security forces of deploying a Long Range Acoustic Device (LRAD), a crowd-control sound cannon that emits high-frequency sounds exceeding 160 decibels and can cause pain and disorientation. People are theorizing that sonic weapons were used against protestors in Serbia. Can't really tell what's happening - just looks like a massive stampede to you seen this?🎯 The Belgrade Centre for Security Policy (BCSP), a Soros-backed and USAID-funded non-governmental organization, issued a statement on Sunday condemning 'the unlawful and inhumane deployment of prohibited weapons, such as acoustic devices, against peaceful protesters.' Serbian authorities have denied using any form of sonic weaponry. The Ministry of Internal Affairs stated there was no evidence to support the claims, calling them 'an attempt to destabilize the country.' Government officials insisted that law enforcement acted within legal limits and maintained order without excessive force. Addressing the public on Saturday, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic dismissed the opposition's accusations, saying a real sonic cannon 'beeps so eerily, it causes such nausea and vomiting that you can't recover from it for days.' 'Just so you know what kind of lies we're talking about… I am asking the Ministry of Justice and the prosecutor's office to react – either to prosecute those who used it, and we know they didn't, but let's check,' Vucic said on Sunday. Let there be a proceeding, but then they should also prosecute those who went public with such a blatant lie. Belgrade's emergency hospital denied reports that large numbers of people sought medical assistance after the incident, also urging legal action against those who 'spread untrue information.' The protests followed months of student-led demonstrations over alleged corruption and government mismanagement, sparked by a fatal accident at the Novi Sad railway station in November 2024. Vucic has claimed the demonstrations are politically motivated and aimed at destabilizing Serbia. In a social media post on Sunday, he praised the police and military for handling the unrest 'without raising a baton' and thanked them for preserving peace and stability.
CBC
16-03-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Serbian officials, police deny using sonic weapon on anti-government protesters
Social Sharing Serbian officials denied Sunday that the country's security forces used a military-grade sonic weapon to disperse and scare protesters at a huge anti-government rally in the capital. Opposition officials and Serbian rights groups claimed that the widely banned acoustic weapon that emits a targeted beam to temporarily incapacitate people was used during the protest Saturday. They say they will file charges with the European Court of Human Rights and domestic courts against those who ordered the attack. Serbia has not denied that it has the acoustic device in its arsenal. At least 100,000 people descended on Belgrade on Saturday for a mass rally seen as a culmination of months-long protests against Serbia's populist President Aleksandar Vucic and his government. The rally was part of a nationwide anti-corruption movement that erupted after a concrete canopy collapsed at a train station in Serbia's north in November, killing 15 people. Almost daily demonstrations that started in response to the tragedy have shaken Vucic's decade-long firm grip on power in Serbia where many blame the crash on rampant government corruption, negligence and disrespect of construction safety regulations, demanding accountability for the victims. Footage from the rally show people standing during 15 minutes of silence for the rail station disaster while suddenly experiencing a whooshing sound that immediately triggered panic and a brief stampede. An Associated Press photographer at the scene said people started scrambling for cover, leaving the middle of the downtown street almost empty as they started falling over each other. Those exposed to the weapon experience sharp ear pain, disorientation and panic, military experts say. Prolonged exposure can cause eardrum ruptures and irreversible hearing damage. The Belgrade Centre for Security Policy, a non-governmental organization, condemned "the unlawful and inhumane deployment of prohibited weapons, such as acoustic devices, against peaceful protesters." "This act represents a blatant display of force and an attempt to incite chaos, aiming to delegitimize protests and criminalize peaceful citizens," the group said. Serbian police and the defence ministry denied that the illegal weapon was used. The Serbian president on Sunday urged judicial authorities to respond to the information "that sonic cannons were used during the protests," the state RTS broadcaster reported. "I am asking the ministry of justice and the prosecutor's office to react, either to prosecute those who used it, and we know they didn't but let's check," Vucic said. "Let there be a proceeding but then they should also prosecute those who went public with such a notorious lie."
The Independent
16-03-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Serbian officials deny illegal sonic weapon attack on peaceful protesters
Serbian officials denied Sunday that the country's security forces used a military-grade sonic weapon to disperse and scare protesters at a huge anti-government rally in the capital. Opposition officials and Serbian rights groups claimed that the widely banned acoustic weapon that emits a targeted beam to temporarily incapacitate people was used during the protest Saturday. They say they will file charges with the European Court of Human Rights and domestic courts against those who ordered the attack. Serbia has not denied that it has the acoustic device in its arsenal. At least 100,000 people descended on Belgrade on Saturday for a mass rally seen as a culmination of months-long protests against Serbia's populist President Aleksandar Vucic and his government. The rally was part of a nationwide anti-corruption movement that erupted after a concrete canopy collapsed at a train station in Serbia's north in November, killing 15 people. Almost daily demonstrations that started in response to the tragedy have shaken Vucic's decade-long firm grip on power in Serbia where many blame the crash on rampant government corruption, negligence and disrespect of construction safety regulations, demanding accountability for the victims. Footage from the rally show people standing during 15 minutes of silence for the rail station disaster while suddenly experiencing a whooshing sound that immediately triggered panic and a brief stampede. An Associated Press photographer at the scene said people started scrambling for cover, leaving the middle of the downtown street almost empty as they started falling over each other. Those exposed to the weapon experience sharp ear pain, disorientation and panic, military experts say. Prolonged exposure can cause eardrum ruptures and irreversible hearing damage. The Belgrade Centre for Security Policy, a non-governmental organization, condemned 'the unlawful and inhumane deployment of prohibited weapons, such as acoustic devices, against peaceful protesters.' 'This act represents a blatant display of force and an attempt to incite chaos, aiming to delegitimize protests and criminalize peaceful citizens,' the group said. Serbian police and the defense ministry denied that the illegal weapon was used. The Serbian president on Sunday urged judicial authorities to respond to the information "that sonic cannons were used during the protests," the state RTS broadcaster reported. 'I am asking … the ministry of justice and the prosecutor's office to react, either to prosecute those who used it, and we know they didn't but let's check," Vucic said. 'Let there be a proceeding but then they should also prosecute those who went public with such a notorious lie.' Belgrade's emergency hospital has denied reports that many people sought help after the incident and urged legal action against those who 'spread untrue information.'
