Students blocking the Faculty of Agriculture at the University of Belgrade announced on October 14 that their colleague "experienced physical and psychological torture at the police station."
"She was given a paper of unknown content and threatened to sign it. When she refused, physical and psychological torture followed," the students posted on the social network Instagram.
Students in Blockade is a self-organized group that emerged from the suspension of classes at universities across Serbia and civil protests demanding accountability from the authorities for physical attacks on students last December and the deaths of 16 people at the Novi Sad Railway Station on November 1.
The blockades were initiated in November by students of the Belgrade Faculty of Dramatic Arts (FDU) after they were beaten by party officials during a memorial service for the victims on the street.
The organization announced on Tuesday that a student at the Faculty of Agriculture was "taken to the police station for an interview with two uniformed individuals and one civilian."
"A uniformed police officer slammed her head against the table with all his strength, tearing her skull. After that, she was hit in the hip area with a pistol. Then her hand was tied to a radiator, and the other was left free so she could sign the paper - which she again refused to do," the statement from the Students Blockading the Faculty of Agriculture in Belgrade states.
The organization announced that the detained student was not allowed to call a lawyer, that she was released after a certain time, and that she was attacked again in the evening hours.
"A black bag was placed over her head and she was forcibly thrown into a car. Unknown persons slapped her in the car, hit her, tore her clothes and touched her inappropriately. They asked her for information regarding the blockades and protests. They threatened her," Students Blockading the Faculty of Agriculture announced.
In a statement about the case, the students in the blockade published the medical report of the student's examination and photographs that they claim show the injuries she sustained.
"We are seeking an answer to the question of who did this. We demand that the guilty be held accountable," Students in Blockade said on October 14.
Response from the Ministry of Internal Affairs
The Ministry of Interior announced on Tuesday that a private healthcare institution in Belgrade reported to the Belgrade Police on September 24 at 6:55 p.m. that a PA (born in 2004) had approached them and stated that she had been injured by a police officer with whom she had been interviewed.
The Ministry announced that, regarding this report, police officers interviewed the named person, but that she did not want to cooperate with them or provide any information about the incident.
"The checks carried out determined that PA was not in the premises of the Belgrade City Police Department on the said day and that the police officers of that department did not act towards her," the Ministry of Interior stated.
It is added that on September 25, the Ministry of Interior notified the competent prosecutor's office in Belgrade and the Ministry of Interior's Internal Control Sector (SUK).
"To date, we have not had a request to collect the necessary information from the competent authority," the Ministry of Interior stated.
MPs from the opposition Freedom and Justice Party (SSP) and the Green Left Front (ZLF) called on Interior Minister Ivica Dačić at the Serbian Parliament session on October 14 to address allegations of police violence against female students participating in protests over the past almost a year.
"A terrible crime has occurred. I ask why the Ministry of Interior has not yet held a press conference about it and who is responsible for the actions of the police officers," said MP Borko Stefanović from the SSP.
"Where is Dačić to answer? I call on policewomen to raise their voices against such behavior," ZLF MP Radomir Lazović said in parliament.
National Assembly Speaker Ana Brnabić expressed confidence that the Ministry of Interior will make an announcement.
The president of the "Move-Change" movement, Savo Manojlović, has asked the Minister of Interior Ivica Dačić and the Director of the Serbian Police, Dragan Vasiljević, to comment on the allegations of police torture of a student at the Faculty of Agriculture in Belgrade.
"This is a serious violation of human rights that must not go unanswered. It is necessary to provide the public with a list of those responsible," said Savo Manojlović.
Over the past year, there have been several cases in which student organizations, human rights groups, and the professional community have accused the police of excessive use of force against students and participants in anti-government protests.
In some of the cases, videos were released that security experts say constitute evidence. To date, the police and institutions have not processed any of these complaints.
Bonus video:
