Despite instructions from the Public Prosecutor’s Office to arrest all perpetrators involved in the February 16 student protests in Novi Sad, only one suspect, Gorski Matović, has been detained so far. Matović, reportedly connected to the ruling party, is known for previous violent behavior.
Social media footage shows Matović assaulting a student, and another video depicts him hitting a female student’s head against a wall. These were the only attacks recognized and acted upon by police to date.
Witnesses and journalists reported that other incidents went largely unpunished. Journalist Žarko Bogosavljević described being attacked by men in black while filming the events, with his phone knocked from his hands, yet the attackers remain at large.
Experts and commentators question why police action has been slower than public identification via social media. Uglješa Bokić, a journalist, criticized the delayed response, highlighting that images and profiles of perpetrators are often immediately available online.
Andrej Ivanji, editor of the weekly “Vreme,” pointed out that some regime supporters involved in violent acts may have criminal records and are shielded from accountability to maintain their loyalty to authorities.
The case has raised concerns over selective law enforcement and whether police are deliberately overlooking certain attackers while only targeting those already publicly recognized.
