European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos said that an unprecedented number of Serbian citizens peacefully protested in Belgrade today, demanding the rule of law and strong and accountable democratic institutions.
"I thank everyone who ensured their safety. An agreement should follow on the reforms necessary for Serbia's European path," she wrote on X.
The "Public Gathering Archive" website announced that, according to their estimates, between 275.000 and 325.000 people attended today's protest, with the possibility that the number was even higher.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić previously said that the army estimated that 88.000 people attended, the police estimated 107.000, and the BIA "something in between."
Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić said he was pleased that a large protest was held in Belgrade today, with "enormous and negative energy and anger and rage expressed towards the authorities", and that there were no casualties or serious injuries.
He said that 22 people were arrested, that no one was seriously injured, and that the accusations about the "sound cannon" were shameful.
Police in Zrenjanin arrested SN (23) on suspicion of committing a criminal offense - calling for a violent change in the constitutional order.
He is suspected of posting photos of an automatic rifle and ammunition on Instagram from a fake profile and writing "preparing for tomorrow" and "15.3".
He was brought to the prosecutor's office with a criminal complaint.
N1 reports that they were told by the Serbian Ministry of the Interior that they did not use a "sound cannon" because the use of that weapon is not in accordance with the law.
They said that the Serbian Ministry of Interior is using only legally permitted means, in accordance with the law, and that the competent authorities will determine all the facts about what happened.
Since the students declared that the protest was no longer theirs, there have been significantly fewer people in front of and around the Serbian Parliament, but they are still gathered, reports a reporter from "Vijesti".
The police presence has also been increased near the Post Office building, in front of the Parliament and around Pioneer Park, where "students who want to study" are located.
The number of gendarmes at the entrance to the park has doubled. In front of the fence and not far from them are several dozen people throwing stones.
Speculation has emerged on social media that the sound that broke the fifteen-minute silence at the protest and caused panic among those gathered was a sonic weapon or "sound cannon."
Military analyst Aleksandar Radić explained to N1 that it is an American non-lethal, aggressive, sonic weapon that aims to disable a target, that is, to serve as a disabling device.
"The biggest problem in tonight's event is - who came up with the idea to use such weapons? In a situation when all the demonstrators were peaceful, when a fifteen-minute message was being given to the victims, weapons were used. The only goal of that act is a brutal display of force, proof of arrogance, and the motive is hatred towards one's own people," said Radić.
He claims that the "sonic cannon" has been in the possession of Serbia's security system for several years.
MP Zdravko Ponoš also states that according to the information he received, it was a sonic weapon.
"The reaction of the crowd, that they felt as if something had passed by them, was a consequence of the use of sound, with the aim of scaring them," said Ponoš.
He also explained that, in addition to causing panic, this type of weapon can be used in multiple ways.
"The use of these weapons can also be harmful to health, and the fact that they were used while the mail was being delivered to the victims is a complete scandal," said Ponoš.
Students have retreated to their faculties, while some citizens are still on the streets.
The British news agency Reuters published photos from tonight's rally.
At around 20.45:XNUMX p.m., the gendarmerie set off with Humvees from the Faculty of Law towards the city center, in the direction of the Serbian Parliament, but they soon stopped.
They were also ordered to lower their shields. Shortly afterwards, they abandoned the position, an N1 reporter reported.
Citizens chanted: "Arrest Vučić", "He's finished".
Burning torches were thrown towards Pioneer Park and red and white smoke can be seen coming from it, reports a reporter from "Vijesti".
Cannon shots are heard occasionally.
Video: Marija Pešić
A speech by Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić has been announced at 22 p.m.
Earlier this evening, Vučić wrote briefly on Instagram, alongside a photo of himself draped in a flag: "Serbia lives."
An incident occurred on Nikola Pašić Square tonight when several people attacked and kicked and punched a young man who fell and remained lying on the asphalt, N1 reports.
It was not clear what caused the conflict and incident, after which an ambulance arrived on the scene.
After the silence at Slavija was broken, the student riot police took off their vests and announced that this was no longer their protest and decided that all students should return to their faculties.
The Serbian Ministry of Internal Affairs announced that at several locations in the center of Belgrade, incidents and fights occurred between some of the participants in today's protest, who repeatedly attacked police officers, trying to prevent them from performing their duties and to cause greater unrest.
"Members of the Ministry of Internal Affairs are taking all measures and actions within their jurisdiction to prevent further escalation of these incidents, preserve public order and peace, protect citizens and maintain security," they added in the statement.
The world's best tennis player Novak Djokovic called today's protest historic and magnificent in an Instagram story.
Serbian Parliament Speaker Ana Brnabić has rejected allegations that the attack in the incidents during tonight's protest in front of the Serbian Parliament was carried out by someone gathered in the camp in Pionirski Park, but rather that "extremists" attacked both students at the blockade and students in the park.
"It is a lie that anyone from Pioneer Park attacked anyone. Clear evidence that extremists attacked both students at the blockades and students in Pioneer Park. Violence will not be allowed," she wrote on the social network X.
The N1 reporter, who is at Slavija, says that she heard over the loudspeaker that the police said that there had been minor incidents near the Parliament, but that everything was fine now and that they could continue with the protest.
The gendarmerie that was standing in front of the Serbian Parliament headed towards the Constitutional Court of Serbia, and a new team of police arrived to replace them, N1 reports, explaining that it was just a replacement.
An N1 reporter previously reported that members of the Gendarmerie left the area in front of the Parliament and went to the area where citizens had been standing until then, with whom they greeted each other, and were replaced by another cordon.
The Instagram page "Students in Blockade" also reported that bottles and stones were thrown from the direction of Pioneer Park.
They said the student protest was ending.
"Our officers have removed their vests. We appeal to citizens to retreat to safety," the post reads.
The police took to the streets around the Serbian Parliament, the students said that the incidents were provoked and that they could no longer organize a protest and that it was up to the police and the Gendarmerie to protect the citizens.
This is what the students told the "Vijesti" reporter in the field.
The police are going behind the Parliament towards the Church of St. Mark, or rather towards Tašmajdan Park in front of that church.
Video: Marija Pešić
Bonus video:
