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Russia Today
30-03-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
Russian FSB experts join Serbia ‘sonic weapon' probe
A group of officers from Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) has arrived in Serbia and will spend at least a week investigating opposition claims regarding the alleged use of a 'sonic weapon' during mass protests earlier this month, President Aleksandar Vucic confirmed on Saturday. The opposition Freedom and Justice Party (SSP) has accused Serbian security forces of deploying a Long Range Acoustic Device (LRAD) during a major rally in Belgrade on March 15. The allegations were amplified by the Belgrade Centre for Security Policy (BCSP), a USAID-funded NGO also supported by George Soros' Open Society Foundations. While the government has dismissed the accusations as baseless, it launched a formal probe, pledging to identify and prosecute either those responsible for using the device or those spreading what it called 'blatant lies.' READ MORE: Serbian protesters claim police used 'acoustic weapons' A team of FSB specialists, invited by Belgrade, arrived on Friday evening and began their work Saturday morning, Vucic told the Vecernje Novosti daily. The Russian experts are expected to spend at least seven to eight days inspecting all crowd control devices in the arsenal of Serbia's law enforcement agencies, he added. The FSB team will publicly present its findings at the conclusion of the investigation, Vucic said, expressing hope that the probe will help 'dispel more lies' about the events in the Balkan country. Serbia has seen months of protests sparked by a tragedy in Novi Sad last November, where 16 people were killed when a concrete canopy collapsed at a railway station. What began as student-led demonstrations over government negligence evolved into broader rallies against alleged corruption, culminating in the March 15 protest in Belgrade. Described by some Western outlets as 'probably the biggest' in Serbia's history, the 100,000-strong demonstration resulted in just over 50 injuries and 20 arrests. READ MORE: Serbia facing 'color revolution' – deputy PM The Serbian government has alleged that the US 'deep state' and European intelligence services are fueling the unrest in retaliation for Belgrade's refusal to align with anti-Russian policies. Vucic has previously accused opposition figures of collaborating with Western, Croatian, and Albanian intelligence agencies in an effort to overthrow his administration. Serbia is facing a 'color revolution,' Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vulin claimed last week during a visit to Moscow. Moscow, meanwhile, has voiced support for Belgrade. 'Russia cherishes its relationship with Serbia and is concerned about the current developments,' said Sergey Shoigu, former defense minister and now secretary of Russia's National Security Council. He added that Serbia can always count on Russian assistance if needed.
Russia Today
27-03-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
Russia to probe ‘sonic weapon' incident
The Serbian government is preparing for a visit from a group of Russian experts to probe allegations regarding the deployment of a 'sonic weapon' during recent mass protests, Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vulin has announced. The opposition Freedom and Justice Party (SSP) has accused security forces of utilizing a Long Range Acoustic Device (LRAD), a crowd-control technology originally designed by the US Navy, which poses a significant risk of hearing damage. The incident occurred on March 15 during mass protests in the capital, Belgrade, which the government has claimed are foreign-instigated efforts to undermine its authority through popular unrest. In an interview with RTS on Wednesday, Vulin rejected the claims that LRAD had been deployed and announced that specialists from Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) will arrive in Serbia to conduct an inquiry. Read more Serbia blames 'US deep state' for mass protests 'Their task is to clarify what transpired. We have nothing to conceal,' Vulin stated, emphasizing Belgrade's commitment to a thorough investigation in hopes of moving beyond the controversy. President Aleksandar Vucic's government has alleged that the US 'deep state' and European intelligence agencies are inciting the wave of protests in retaliation for Serbia's refusal to endorse anti-Russian policies. The EU has insisted that Belgrade align its foreign policy with Brussels, before a Serbian bid to join the bloc could proceed. The ongoing protests stem from a tragic event in Novi Sad last November, where 16 lives were lost due to the collapse of a concrete canopy at a railway station, leading to multiple resignations among senior officials. The demonstration on March 15 represented the peak of the pressure campaign. Claims of the 'sonic weapon' deployment were propagated by the Belgrade Centre for Security Policy (BCSP), a USAID-funded NGO supported by George Soros' Open Society Foundations.
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.
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.
