European Court of Human Rights action on Serbia’s sonic crowd-control devices
The European Court of Human Rights issued a provisional order urging Serbia to halt sonic crowd-control devices at protests, citing imminent risk of misuse. The measure, adopted on April 30, responds to a petition filed by 47 citizens who participated in a large anti-government rally in Belgrade on March 15, when a violent noise forced thousands to scatter. Attendees described the roar as if an invisible wave were about to strike them, combining aircraft-like sound and a strange, unsettling hum that compelled people to flee, stumble, or cry out.
The sonic device, widely suspected to be a long-range acoustic device, sparked panic, anxiety, vertigo, hearing loss, and nausea, prompting many protesters to seek medical care. It was activated during a 15-minute moment of silence honoring 15 victims of the November 2024 collapse of the Novi Sad station canopy, which intensified the impact of the acoustic device.
According to Vladica Ilic of the Belgrade Center for Human Rights, one of the groups that submitted the request to the Court alongside CRTA, FemPlatz, YUCOM, Iniciativa A11 and Civic Initiatives, the court acted because it found an imminent risk of reuse of sound devices in Serbia. Ilic explained that if the Court had not assessed such danger, the measure would not have been issued, stressing that what happened matters not only for the past but to prevent recurrence in the future.
Although Serbia’s president, Aleksandar Vucic, and Interior Minister Ivica Dacic denied the use of a sonic cannon, saying Serbia does not possess such weapons, the minister admitted a day later that possession exists but is not used. He even demonstrated that the device could emit a message identifying it as a Long Range Acoustic Device, LRAD.
The court made clear that the measure aims to stop both government use and future third-party deployment, highlighting the need for safeguards. The Court invited the applicants to register the case by the next deadline to advance the proceedings by May 27.
Students Call Europe
The European Court of Human Rights’ response follows the Strasbourg Tour, a student-led bicycle journey covering about 1,500 kilometers to Strasbourg to highlight the lack of institutional action after the Novi Sad canopy collapse. A journalist who participated in the ride described the Court’s provisional order, noting that it told Serbian authorities to refrain from considering firearm use in future protests, given the existence of such weapons in the country despite current laws.
Beyond drawing broad attention across European media, the cycling march also prompted early steps by the Council of Europe, of which Serbia is a member. It is reported that the campaign would not have happened without the students traveling across Europe and delivering four letters to European institutions and to the French president, Emmanuel Macron, explaining the concerns and demands.
For more than six months, Serbian students and citizens have been staging protests to demand accountability for the deaths of 16 people in Novi Sad. Many blamed widespread government corruption for neglecting safety regulations and for negligence during the renovation of the station building.