Serbian authorities have denied that police used banned “sonic weapons” to disperse crowds during the biggest protest in the country’s history, with hundreds of thousands gathering in Belgrade.
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| Serbian police forces are accused of using sound weapons to suppress the largest protest in Serbia's history. (Source: Reuters) |
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic insisted that police did not use the device and called the allegation a “dirty lie”.
“This is a blatant fabrication,” he told the nation. “I have seen this type of weapon abroad, it makes a sharp, piercing sound. However, this sound was not heard on the streets of Belgrade on Saturday night (March 15).”
Mr Vucic also announced that an investigation would be launched, warning that “those who spread this lie will also be held accountable before the law”.
Allegations from protesters
According to witnesses, during the 15-minute silence, a sudden loud noise rang out, causing the crowd to panic and run away.
Military analyst Aleksandar Radic told local media that the sound could have come from a long-range acoustic device (LRAD), commonly known as an “acoustic weapon.” He said the device was “primarily used to neutralize crowds.”
The Belgrade Center for Security Policy (BCSP), a Serbian NGO, has strongly condemned the government for using this weapon.
“This action is a blatant show of power and an attempt to create chaos to discredit the protest and criminalize peaceful citizens,” the BCSP said, stressing that the use of sound weapons is a violation of Serbian police law.
The biggest protest in Serbian history
The protest in Belgrade attracted a record number of participants. According to police, more than 100,000 people took to the streets, while independent monitoring organizations estimated the actual number to be over 300,000.
The march on 15 March was the culmination of a months-long protest movement led by Serbian students. Demonstrators demanded the government take responsibility for the deaths of 15 people in Novi Sad, when part of the roof of a railway station collapsed and crushed them.
In addition to the tragic accident, the protest movement reflects a host of other grievances against President Vucic's administration, including allegations of widespread corruption, nepotism, mismanagement of natural resources, electoral fraud, control of the media, and a lack of transparency in the handling of serious events involving government officials.
Under pressure from the wave of protests, Serbian Prime Minister Milos Vucevic and Novi Sad Mayor Milan Djuric have submitted their resignations.
Source: https://baoquocte.vn/bi-to-dung-vu-khi-am-thanh-dan-ap-bieu-tinh-thu-tuong-serbia-bat-ngo-tu-chuc-307916.html
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