{"id":1651,"date":"2025-06-05T16:06:06","date_gmt":"2025-06-05T14:06:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gradjanske.vuksha.com\/un-special-rapporteurs-have-published-requests-addressed-to-the-state-of-serbia-about-march-15-and-the-alleged-use-of-sonic-weapons\/"},"modified":"2026-06-29T10:18:37","modified_gmt":"2026-06-29T08:18:37","slug":"un-special-rapporteurs-have-published-requests-addressed-to-the-state-of-serbia-about-march-15-and-the-alleged-use-of-sonic-weapons","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gradjanske.vuksha.com\/en\/un-special-rapporteurs-have-published-requests-addressed-to-the-state-of-serbia-about-march-15-and-the-alleged-use-of-sonic-weapons\/","title":{"rendered":"UN special rapporteurs have published requests addressed to the state of Serbia about March 15 and the alleged use of sonic weapons"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The special rapporteurs of the United Nations (UN) published an official communication with the requests they sent to the Government of Serbia in connection with the events of March 15 in Belgrade, when at 7:11 p.m. a peaceful assembly of a large number of people was violently interrupted by the alleged use of sound weapons. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n

In the official communication sent to the State of Serbia, the UN rapporteurs pointed out that the information received about the events of March 15th cause serious concern<\/strong> regarding the full implementation of the Serbian Government’s obligations regarding the respect and protection of rights and fundamental freedoms according to international human rights law, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, as well as the obligations arising from the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Punishments or Procedures, including specifically the failure to protect protesters.<\/p>\n\n

UN Special Rapporteurs have expressed serious concern about the increasing restrictions on the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and in particular the alleged use of an illegal sound device<\/strong>, which has led to numerous further claims of injury and health problems caused by these weapons. They also note that Serbia has an obligation to regulate and supervise the production, procurement and use of equipment used by the police and law enforcement agencies, and that special caution is required when using experimental weapons, which include sound devices, because their nature is not sufficiently known, nor have the medical and other effects of their use been sufficiently investigated. <\/p>\n\n

“These weapons and devices pose a risk of causing temporary or permanent hearing damage, depending on the model, distance and duration of exposure. They can be misused in an indiscriminate manner against masses of people or used to cause injury. Their effects, which rely on sensory disorientation and whose effects are general rather than targeted, can cause dangerous stampedes and chaotic behavior, affecting both protesters and bystanders. Although we cannot confirm that such weapons were used in this particular case, the evidence we have received indicate that its use caused mass panic, which is contrary to the precautionary principle,” states the letter of the UN special rapporteurs addressed to the Government of Serbia. <\/p>\n\n

It is also added that if such weapons were used to disperse peacefully gathered people, that this represents an illegal break-up of a peaceful protest, and that the alleged use of such weapons is particularly disproportionate and cruel<\/strong> at the moment when the participants of the meeting were silently paying tribute to the victims of the fall of the railway station canopy<\/strong> in Novi Sad. It is also noted that any use of sound devices must be clearly regulated by law, with a special and high-ranking permit for a specific situation, and that it is necessary to ensure supervision and transparent reporting on such use. <\/p>\n\n

The six UN Special Rapporteurs requested additional information and comments from the State of Serbia, including those relating to: measures taken by Serbia to conduct a prompt, impartial, independent and effective investigation<\/strong> into the alleged use of sonic\/acoustic weapons to unlawfully break up a peaceful assembly on March 15; on the legal basis for such weapons<\/strong>, previous approvals, hierarchy of command and rationale for use; about the possession<\/strong> of less lethal weapons that Serbia has acquired or produced, including acoustic or other weapons based on sound waves; as well as information on the number and types of injuries<\/strong> caused by the use of the mentioned device. <\/p>\n\n

The official communication of the UN special rapporteurs was published 60 days from the moment of referral, and it will be included in the regular report of the UN Human Rights Council, as well as possible responses, if Serbia submits them.<\/p>\n\n

The six special rapporteurs of the United Nations who sent the communication to the Government of Serbia are:<\/p>\n\n