Serbian President Vučić accused of orchestrating sound‑cannon simulation amid protests

Serbian officials have been embroiled in a controversy over an alleged “sound‑cannon” used during the 15 March 2025 student protest in Belgrade. Justice Minister Nenad Vujić told television that the prosecutor’s findings show “elements of terrorist activity” in the simulated use of the device, arguing that the incident was meant to create panic and pressure the state. Prosecutor’s office statements claim that students discussed the plan in a meeting of the “Students in Blockade” group and prepared documentation to simulate the weapon’s deployment. President Aleksandar Vučić dismissed the accusations, saying the narrative was fabricated to generate an effect in Brussels and to undermine his government. Lawyers for the students, such as Nikola Lakić, assert that the public prosecutor has no evidence of any actual use or simulation. A special RTS program analysing the case was criticized by a media‑rights watchdog for violating principles of balanced reporting and human‑dignity.

While the sound‑cannon issue is being debated, street protests continue. On 20 June, thousands gathered in Novi Sad, demanding snap parliamentary elections following the 2024 railway‑station awning collapse that killed 16 people. Demonstrators, many from the student movement, chanted against Vučić and the Serbian Progressive Party, linking the demand for early elections to broader grievances about corruption, media repression and alleged state‑organized intimidation.

The overlapping controversies highlight a deepening political rift in Serbia, with the government facing legal, media‑freedom and electoral challenges simultaneously.