The Forum for Security and Democracy (FBD) has urged the Serbian Parliament to form a special commission tasked with thoroughly, critically, and objectively reviewing all cases of police brutality that have impacted the public since November 1 of the previous year, including the Ministry of Interior’s response to such incidents.
FBD proposes that the commission include civil society representatives, respected lawyers, attorneys, and members of journalistic and media associations. The commission’s work should be fully transparent, with the public having ongoing access, and conclude with concrete findings and recommendations, including sanctions for those responsible.
The Forum stressed that, despite past failures of parliamentary inquiry committees—such as in cases involving mass killings in schools and other regions—members of the current Parliament, particularly those from the Socialist Party of Serbia, should support the creation of an independent commission.
FBD also highlighted recent incidents of police violence against students and teenagers on November 17 in Novi Sad as further proof that the Ministry of Interior and police forces continue to fail in preventing and sanctioning excessive use of force, violating both legal obligations and fundamental rights guaranteed by the Serbian Constitution.
The Forum emphasized that accountability in policing is essential to demonstrate that justice and law apply to all citizens equally, not just to those who protest. They called for strict punishment of all officers and officials involved in acts of violence, as documented in media and social networks.
