Focus on the BIG picture.
Tuesday, Mar 18, 2025
Outside the box.
Serbia's authoritarian government employs unlawful sonic weapons against nonviolent demonstrators.
Government's Harsh Tactics Reveal Desperation in Face of Growing Anti-Corruption Movement
In a shocking exhibition of authoritarian cruelty, President Aleksandar Vučić's regime has intensified its attack on basic human rights by utilizing banned sonic weapons against peaceful protesters.
This despicable act took place during a large anti-corruption demonstration in Belgrade, where citizens were exercising their democratic right to express discontent with government misconduct. On March 15, 2025, hundreds of thousands of Serbians, led by brave students, converged in the capital to demand accountability for the tragic collapse of the Novi Sad railway station canopy—an incident that resulted in the deaths of 15 innocent individuals on November 1, 2024. This disaster, a stark representation of the systemic corruption ingrained in Vučić's administration, has sparked a nationwide movement advocating for justice and transparency. Eyewitnesses and alarming footage from the rally reveal that during a somber 15-minute silence to honor the victims, a sudden, piercing sound erupted, causing panic and disorder among the participants.
Protesters reported severe ear pain, intense headaches, nausea, and disorientation—symptoms consistent with exposure to Long Range Acoustic Devices (LRADs), commonly referred to as 'sound cannons.' These devices, meant to emit debilitating sound beams, are internationally condemned for their potential to cause irreversible harm and are categorically prohibited against civilian populations. Despite the growing evidence and widespread outcry, Vučić's government has audaciously dismissed the accusations.
The president labeled the claims as 'wicked lies' and, in a cynical maneuver, suggested involving international agencies like the FBI and Russia's FSB to conduct an investigation—a transparent effort to evade accountability and obscure the truth.
This denial is particularly offensive considering that Serbian officials have previously acknowledged the acquisition of such crowd-control weapons, while insisting they were not utilized during the protest. The international community must not be deceived by Vučić's deceptive tactics.
The use of sonic weapons against peaceful demonstrators represents a blatant infringement of human rights and underscores the regime's desperation to suppress dissent.
Serbian human rights groups and opposition leaders are rightly calling for an independent investigation, urging global organizations such as the United Nations, the Council of Europe, and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to examine this atrocity. The blood of the Novi Sad victims and the anguish of the protesters are staining the hands of a corrupt administration that clings to power through violence and intimidation.
The resolve of the Serbian people in the face of such tyranny is a beacon of hope and a passionate call for justice.
It is the responsibility of the global community to unite in steadfast support of Serbia's citizens, to denounce the Vučić regime's heinous actions, and to back the quest for accountability and democratic reform.
The time to take action is now, before more innocent lives are devastated by a government that has abandoned its moral and legal responsibilities.
This despicable act took place during a large anti-corruption demonstration in Belgrade, where citizens were exercising their democratic right to express discontent with government misconduct. On March 15, 2025, hundreds of thousands of Serbians, led by brave students, converged in the capital to demand accountability for the tragic collapse of the Novi Sad railway station canopy—an incident that resulted in the deaths of 15 innocent individuals on November 1, 2024. This disaster, a stark representation of the systemic corruption ingrained in Vučić's administration, has sparked a nationwide movement advocating for justice and transparency. Eyewitnesses and alarming footage from the rally reveal that during a somber 15-minute silence to honor the victims, a sudden, piercing sound erupted, causing panic and disorder among the participants.
Protesters reported severe ear pain, intense headaches, nausea, and disorientation—symptoms consistent with exposure to Long Range Acoustic Devices (LRADs), commonly referred to as 'sound cannons.' These devices, meant to emit debilitating sound beams, are internationally condemned for their potential to cause irreversible harm and are categorically prohibited against civilian populations. Despite the growing evidence and widespread outcry, Vučić's government has audaciously dismissed the accusations.
The president labeled the claims as 'wicked lies' and, in a cynical maneuver, suggested involving international agencies like the FBI and Russia's FSB to conduct an investigation—a transparent effort to evade accountability and obscure the truth.
This denial is particularly offensive considering that Serbian officials have previously acknowledged the acquisition of such crowd-control weapons, while insisting they were not utilized during the protest. The international community must not be deceived by Vučić's deceptive tactics.
The use of sonic weapons against peaceful demonstrators represents a blatant infringement of human rights and underscores the regime's desperation to suppress dissent.
Serbian human rights groups and opposition leaders are rightly calling for an independent investigation, urging global organizations such as the United Nations, the Council of Europe, and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to examine this atrocity. The blood of the Novi Sad victims and the anguish of the protesters are staining the hands of a corrupt administration that clings to power through violence and intimidation.
The resolve of the Serbian people in the face of such tyranny is a beacon of hope and a passionate call for justice.
It is the responsibility of the global community to unite in steadfast support of Serbia's citizens, to denounce the Vučić regime's heinous actions, and to back the quest for accountability and democratic reform.
The time to take action is now, before more innocent lives are devastated by a government that has abandoned its moral and legal responsibilities.
