Europe's human rights watchdog concerned over use of force against
Serbia anti-corruption protesters
[July 05, 2025]
By JOVANA GEC
BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) — Europe's human rights watchdog Friday expressed
concern that Serbian authorities were using excessive force and
arbitrary detentions to break up street protests against the populist
government of President Aleksandar Vucic.
Michael O’Flaherty, the Council of Europe's commissioner for human
rights, said in a statement that “freedom of assembly and freedom of
expression are key human rights enshrined in the European Convention on
Human Rights and it is Serbia’s duty to guarantee them."
“I am concerned about the current human rights situation in Serbia,
where, despite the assurances I received from the authorities during my
visit in April, excessive use of force is being applied to curb
demonstrations,” O’Flaherty said.
Amnesty International and Civil Rights Defenders urged restraint and an
investigation into any use of unlawful force.
“Footage of Serbian riot police indiscriminately targeting peaceful
protesters gathered at blockades on the street and in front of
universities in Belgrade are alarming,” the rights groups said in a
joint statement on Friday. “A heavy-handed response to peaceful dissent
cannot be justified.”
Riot police have detained scores of demonstrators since a major rally
last weekend, including university students, their professors and
others, who have been blocking traffic throughout the country demanding
an early parliamentary election.
Tensions have soared since the rally last weekend by tens of thousands
of people in Belgrade which ended with clashes between riot police and
groups of protesters. Monthslong demonstrations previously had been
largely calm.
Police also intervened on Friday to clear traffic blockades in Belgrade,
briefly detaining a number of protesters. Defiant demonstrators
protesters returned to jam the streets on Friday evening.
University students behind the protests have said that police have
injured many peaceful demonstrators in the past several days. Witnesses
told local media that riot police beat up protesters with batons and
shields, and that four students were hospitalized early Thursday,
including one with a broken clavicle.
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Serbian riot police officers guard intersection after remove street
blockades that was set up as part of a protest after a massive rally
demanding an early parliamentary election in Belgrade, Serbia,
Friday, July 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
Police have denied the use of excessive force, warning that blocking
traffic is illegal. Vucic has described ongoing protests as “terror”
and an attempt to bring down the state.
O’Flaherty's statement said that “increased levels of the use of
force by the police as well as arbitrary arrests and detention have
occurred during the week.”
“I am particularly concerned about the arrest of children, as well
as the number of students being charged for criminal offenses or
hospitalized for the treatment of injuries,” O’Flaherty said in a
statement.
He added that “mischaracterization of this largely peaceful
student-led movement should be avoided at all costs.”
Both the European Union mission in Serbia and the U.N. Human Rights
Office said Thursday that they were watching the situation closely
and urged restraint.
Persistent protests that have rattled Vucic first started in
November after a renovated train station canopy collapsed in
Serbia's north, killing 16 people. Many in Serbia blame the tragedy
on alleged corruption-fueled negligence in state infrastructure
projects.
Critics say Vucic has become increasingly authoritarian since coming
to power more than a decade ago, stifling democratic freedoms while
allowing corruption and organized crime to flourish, which he has
denied.
Serbia is formally seeking entry to the EU, but Vucic’s government
has nourished relations with Russia and China.
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