Ten suspects have been remanded in custody for up to 30 days over an attack on citizens celebrating the victory of the student-backed electoral list in the Serbian town of Ub, in an incident that left two people seriously injured. Activists have alleged that the attackers are linked to Darko Glišić, a senior official of the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS).
The Basic Public Prosecutor’s Office in Ub told Serbian news outlet Nova.rs that 13 suspects had been questioned in connection with the incident. They are suspected of committing the criminal offense of violent behavior.
Prosecutors requested pretrial detention, and a preliminary proceedings judge at the Basic Court in Ub ordered 10 of the suspects to remain in custody for up to 30 days.
Some suspects were also questioned by the Higher Public Prosecutor’s Office in Valjevo. Nova.rs reported that the office had not yet responded to questions about the number of people questioned or the charges they face. The outlet also reported that at least 14 people had been arrested.
Celebrations interrupted by violent attack
Like other parts of Serbia, Ub saw celebrations following the electoral victory of the student-backed list. However, the festivities were interrupted in the early hours of the morning.
Miloš Petković, an activist from Ub, told Nova.rs that a group of approximately 15 men waited until the number of people gathered to celebrate had decreased before launching an attack.
“They attacked the people gathered there. They were armed with wooden clubs and metal bars, and some were also carrying pistols. They beat people and injured two of them, one student and one other citizen,” Petković said.
According to Petković, the attackers scattered when police arrived. He said one suspect, holding a pistol, retreated toward the police station and was arrested after backing into its doors.
Footage of the police intervention circulating on social media appears to capture gunshots. Nova.rs reported that police officers fired into the air after spotting armed suspects attempting to escape in cars.
Activists allege links to senior SNS official
According to Nova.rs, one of those arrested is Slobodan Pećinar, whom the outlet describes as a trusted associate of Darko Glišić, a native of Ub who serves as chairman of the SNS Executive Board.
The outlet also reported that Pećinar had previously been convicted of criminal offenses involving violence.
Activist Luka Jovanović filed a police report alleging that he had been attacked by a group of between 15 and 20 men. According to his complaint, the incident occurred at approximately 1:30 a.m. between October 25 and 26, when the attackers arrived in three or four cars along Vuka Karadžića Street.
Jovanović previously told Nova.rs that his friend had been injured and had lost a tooth during the attack. He also alleged that the attackers were associated with Glišić.
Jovanović further claimed that Pećinar had pulled a pistol in the courtyard of the police station while they were giving statements.
These allegations have not been independently established in the available reporting.
Neither Glišić nor the Serbian Progressive Party had publicly commented on the arrests at the time of publication.
The incident comes amid heightened political tensions following the student-backed list’s electoral victory, with the investigation now focused on the alleged violence and the circumstances surrounding the arrests.
