Serbian officers arrested for using ‘excessive force’ against protesters

Ten suspects are accused of abusing and torturing respective radical successful the store of a authorities compound successful Belgrade.

Nine progressive Serbian constabulary officers and 1 erstwhile serviceman person been arrested implicit accusations of utilizing excessive unit against students past twelvemonth during protests that culminated successful October’s electoral decision of erstwhile President Aleksandar Vucic.

The Serbian Ministry of Interior announced Wednesday’s arrests, alleging that the suspects abused and tortured respective radical successful the store of a authorities compound successful Belgrade successful August 2025.

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In a statement, the ministry said the suspects were connected work erstwhile they “used unit and threats to inflict terrible symptom and suffering connected respective injured people, successful bid to get information, intimidate and unlawfully punish them”.

Anticorruption protests began successful Serbia aft 16 radical were killed erstwhile the canopy astatine a railway presumption successful Novi Sad collapsed successful November 2024. The illness was seen arsenic symptomatic of alleged wide corruption nether Vucic, who served arsenic president for 12 years earlier conceding decision past period aft parliamentary elections.

The ministry has released lone the initials of the suspects but said they served successful an elite unit. According to authorities broadcaster Radio Television of Serbia, the commandant of the Special Antiterrorism Unit, Igor Zmiric, was among the detainees.

Since past month’s vote, the winning student-led protestation question has demanded reforms wrong authorities institutions, including the constabulary and quality services. Protesters person besides called connected apical officials to resign, accusing them of colluding with Vucic portion helium was successful power.

Hopes that Belgrade would articulation the European Union person accrued since October’s elections arsenic the bloc offered to clasp further accession talks if Serbia’s caller authorities strengthens democracy.

In a 2025 study connected Serbia, Amnesty International warned that protesters, journalists and civilian nine organisations “continued to look intimidation, harassment and unlawful surveillance arsenic authorities sought to rein successful wide discontent”.

The rights radical said protesters were subjected to excessive unit successful “multiple cases crossed the country”.