The European Commission (EC), commenting on the ongoing protests and civil disobedience across Serbia, has stated that the right to peaceful demonstrations must be respected, and police action must be proportionate and uphold fundamental human rights.
A spokesperson for the EC told Radio Free Europe (RFE) in a written response that Brussels is closely monitoring the situation in Serbia and condemns “all acts of hatred and violence.”
“The right to peaceful demonstrations must be respected. Police action must be proportionate and respect fundamental rights, including the rights of all detainees. We expect a swift, transparent, and credible investigation into allegations of excessive use of force by law enforcement agencies,” the European Commission stated. They added that they expect fair procedures for all those detained during the protests.
“Fundamental values are at the heart of our common European project and must be respected. This also applies to the freedom of assembly as a fundamental right,” the European Commission emphasized.
Developments Following Belgrade Protests
The Higher Public Prosecutor’s Office in Belgrade announced on June 30 that 10 of the 30 suspects accused of attacking police and violent behavior after the June 28 protest at Slavija Square have been questioned.
A section of demonstrators and police clashed in central Belgrade after the official end of the student protest. Police Director Dragan Vasiljević stated at a press conference following the incidents that dozens of people were detained and that “minimal force was used.”
Students involved in the blockades, opposition parties, and non-governmental organizations have accused authorities of excessive use of force. The Belgrade Centre for Human Rights, a non-governmental organization, announced on June 30 that it had filed criminal charges against several unidentified police officers for unlawful conduct and excessive use of force against citizens.
In the days following the mass protest at Slavija, citizens began organizing “mobile blockades” in multiple locations in Belgrade and numerous other cities in Serbia. Police “dispersed” these blockades throughout Sunday evening and all day Monday. Some police actions were marked by arrests, with students alleging that police used excessive force against demonstrators.
Allegations of Police Force and Arrests
Student accounts claim that on the morning of June 30, 29 of their colleagues were detained. Videos published on student social media accounts show arrests and the breaking up of some barricades, with accompanying statements alleging that “people were beaten and deprived of liberty” and that “police are hiding their identity and beating their own people.”
Footage of arrests involving police force was published from blockades near the Faculty of Law in central Belgrade, as well as in Vojvode Stepe Street in the Belgrade neighborhood of Voždovac. One video, widely circulated on social media, shows police vehicles accelerating towards demonstrators in Vojvode Stepe Street as protesters flee the roadway.
