Serbian opposition figure Zdravko Ponoš has come under police scrutiny following his claims that authorities deployed a sonic weapon against demonstrators during a significant protest in Belgrade on March 15, 2025. This inquiry is part of a broader investigation to evaluate whether Ponoš’ social media assertions, which included allegations of a “sound cannon” being used, might breach laws against inciting panic and disorder. The protest was a silent vigil commemorating victims of a tragic canopy collapse at the Novi Sad railway station.
The event, marked as one of Serbia’s largest protests, drew a massive crowd demanding accountability for the disaster at the railway station. During the demonstration, a sudden loud noise was reported, causing a brief stampede among attendees. This event raised suspicions and claims that the noise might have been a sonic device, although the authenticity and intention remain subjects of investigation. In the wake of these claims, Serbian prosecutors are examining whether the incident was orchestrated or inaccurately presented.
Ponoš later claimed that details of his police interview were leaked to a media outlet supportive of the government, raising concerns about the impartiality of the ongoing investigation. As legal authorities continue to question event organizers, participants, and vocal commentators, the broader implications of these allegations are under scrutiny.
In response to these developments, a coalition of Serbian civil society organizations has urged the United Nations to conduct an independent investigation into the purported use of a sonic device during the protest. They argue that the domestic inquiry has become politically compromised, calling for an unbiased evaluation of the events that transpired.