# SNS supporters attack citizens in Vrbas and Bačka Palanka

Category: Violence against citizens  
Period: from 12 Aug 2025  
Outcome: Under investigation (as of 5 Sep 2025)  

On 12 August 2025, supporters of the SNS gathered outside the party's offices in Vrbas and Bačka Palanka pelted citizens at a protest with fireworks, bottles and eggs; according to the police director, 52 people sought medical treatment in Vrbas alone. The Interior Ministry claimed that protesters had attacked SNS supporters, while N1, Radio Free Europe and Vreme, citing video footage, reported that the attack was carried out by SNS supporters. Proceedings are under way against protesters, while only one criminal complaint is known to have been filed against SNS supporters.

## Attack in Vrbas and Bačka Palanka

On 12 August 2025 in Vrbas and Bačka Palanka, SNS supporters gathered outside the party's offices simultaneously pelted citizens at an announced protest with pyrotechnics, bottles and eggs. According to police director Dragan Vasiljević, 52 citizens sought treatment at medical facilities in Vrbas alone, and 16 police officers were injured.

The Interior Ministry and Vasiljević claimed that protesters had attacked SNS supporters; N1, Radio Free Europe and Vreme, citing footage, said the attack was carried out by SNS supporters and that the police in Bačka Palanka did not intervene.

## Municipal president among the activists

In Bačka Palanka, according to the portal 021.rs, SNS activists had already thrown eggs and bottles the day before at residents gathered outside the party's offices for a rally in support of their fellow resident Dragan Prpa. By his account, masked people armed with batons and knives had attacked him on 10 August at the entrance to Bački Petrovac.

The rally of supporters on 12 August in Uska Street was called by the municipal president, Branislav Šušnica, who was among the activists. According to the local portal BAP vesti and residents who spoke to N1, he led a group that also included masked men.

## Chairs thrown at citizens in Novi Sad

The same night in Novi Sad, according to the portal 021.rs, SNS supporters carried chairs out of the party's offices on Bulevar oslobođenja and threw several of them over the police at the people gathered there. According to Danas and KRIK, they included Jovan Kecman, a former leader of the Korida fan group who has a final conviction for attempted murder.

Novi Sad Mayor Žarko Mićin said he did not know who had been in the offices, and he called the people gathered there thugs.

## Protests in the following days

The protests spread over the following days. In Novi Sad on 13 August, supporters of the SNS threw pyrotechnics at citizens, and on 14 August demonstrators wrecked three SNS offices; police fired tear gas in Belgrade and Novi Sad. In New Belgrade on 16 August, police fired tear gas and stun grenades, and a man with a police badge on his belt allegedly pulled out a gun among the crowd. Students of the Faculty of Organizational Sciences (FON) claim that plainclothes inspectors drew guns and beat people in building entrances in New Belgrade and Zemun.

Interior Minister Ivica Dačić said on 15 August that 114 people had been detained and 121 police officers injured over three days. European Commissioner Marta Kos described the reports of violence as very worrying.

## Men with clubs on Kneza Miloša Street

On the evening of 14 August, a group of men with wooden clubs stood across from demonstrators on Kneza Miloša Street in Belgrade. According to N1, video footage shows Dejan Kesar, head of the Belgrade City Secretariat for General Affairs, among them.

## Proceedings and who guarded the offices

Proceedings are under way against demonstrators: five residents of Vrbas were arrested on 14 August, and two men were arrested on 27 August in connection with Vrbas. One criminal complaint is known to have been filed against SNS supporters; a year later, the organisers of the gathering in Vrbas said no one had been detained. Radio Free Europe and KRIK reported that in mid-August SNS offices were also guarded by people with criminal convictions; in Novi Sad on 14 August, there were reportedly neither guards nor police present until the end of the protest.

On 14 August, the Kreni-promeni movement filed criminal complaints against Dačić and Vasiljević, reportedly over police bias. President Vučić announced on 18 August that the state would „prosecute far more“. In September 2026, the Ombudsman shelved some of the complaints about police torture at the 2025 protests.

## Related affairs

The address by Aleksandar Vučić on 17 August 2025 and the mayor of Niš chanting "Ustaše" after Vrbas are recorded in the "Students are terrorists" campaign.

Police violence in Valjevo on the night of 14 to 15 August is covered as a separate affair ("Police violence in Valjevo"), as is the attack on students in Novi Sad in January 2025.

## Participants

- [Serbian Progressive Party](https://odgovornost.rs/en/organizacije/sns): On 12 August 2025, its supporters in Vrbas and Bačka Palanka pelted residents gathered there with firecrackers, eggs and bottles (responsible)
- [Dragan Vasiljević](https://odgovornost.rs/en/osobe/dragan-vasiljevic): He told RTS on 13 August that citizens had headed for the SNS offices looking for a fight and that the party's supporters had attacked no one (commented on the case)
- [Ivica Dačić](https://odgovornost.rs/en/osobe/ivica-dacic): He called it an "attack on the state" and said those who attacked the police would be arrested; according to RFE/RL, he did not mention any measures against SNS activists (commented on the case)
- [Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Serbia](https://odgovornost.rs/en/organizacije/mup-srbije): Police merely pushed back SNS supporters who were throwing pyrotechnics at citizens, and an inspector refused to arrest a rioter (responsible)
- [Miloš Vučević](https://odgovornost.rs/en/osobe/milos-vucevic): He declared that the Progressives would not retreat any more and accused the opposition of being behind the attacks (commented on the case)
- [Aleksandar Vučić](https://odgovornost.rs/en/osobe/aleksandar-vucic): He condemned the wrecking of SNS offices in Novi Sad and said everyone who had been violent would be held accountable (commented on the case)
- [Ana Brnabić](https://odgovornost.rs/en/osobe/ana-brnabic): Responding to a post by Marta Kos, she said that "such a tirade of platitudes has not been heard since the last Miss World contest" (commented on the case)
- [Higher Public Prosecutor's Office in Sombor](https://odgovornost.rs/en/organizacije/vjt-sombor): It ordered that a criminal complaint be filed against two men on suspicion of pelting police officers and SNS supporters (investigation and courts)
- [Zoran Pašalić](https://odgovornost.rs/en/osobe/zoran-pasalic): As Ombudsman, he shelved some of the complaints of police torture at the protests, saying the victims had not cooperated (responsible)
- [Marta Kos](https://odgovornost.rs/en/osobe/marta-kos): She wrote that reports of violence were deeply concerning and that progress towards the EU requires expression without intimidation or attacks (oversight and the public)
- [Dejan Kesar](https://odgovornost.rs/en/osobe/dejan-kesar): He was filmed among men with clubs in Kneza Miloša Street; an unnamed source says he boasts of organising thugs (responsible)
- [Jovan Kecman](https://odgovornost.rs/en/osobe/jovan-kecman): He was filmed on 12 August 2025 throwing a chair at citizens gathered outside the SNS offices in Novi Sad (responsible)
- [Gorski Matović](https://odgovornost.rs/en/osobe/gorski-matovic): He was in the group that guarded the SNS premises on Bulevar oslobođenja in Novi Sad during the protests (commented on the case)
- [Žarko Mićin](https://odgovornost.rs/en/osobe/zarko-micin): Asked about a man convicted of attempted murder being at the SNS premises, he said he did not know who had been there, and called those gathered thugs (commented on the case)
- [Marinika Tepić](https://odgovornost.rs/en/osobe/marinika-tepic): On the night of the clashes in Novi Sad, she posted that Gorski Matović was among the supporters in front of the SNS premises (oversight and the public)
- [Branislav Šušnica](https://odgovornost.rs/en/osobe/branislav-susnica): According to local residents and the BAP vesti portal, he used a megaphone to lead masked people carrying clubs and threatened citizens with beatings (responsible)
- [Kreni-Promeni](https://odgovornost.rs/en/organizacije/kreni-promeni): Filed criminal complaints against Dačić, Vasiljević and unidentified persons over attacks on citizens in Vrbas, Bački Petrovac and Novi Sad (oversight and the public)

## Victims and others harmed

- [Vladimir Grigorijević](https://odgovornost.rs/en/osobe/vladimir-grigorijevic)
- [Dragan Prpa](https://odgovornost.rs/en/osobe/dragan-prpa)

## Sources

- [N1: (VIDEO) Synchronised attack by Progressives on citizens in Bačka Palanka and Vrbas](<https://n1info.rs/vesti/video-sinhronizovan-napad-naprednjaka-na-gradjane-u-backoj-palanci-i-vrbasu/>): 12 Aug 2025
- [Vreme: Synchronised attack by SNS activists on citizens in Bačka Palanka and Vrbas (Video)](<https://vreme.com/vesti/sinhronizovan-napad-aktivista-sns-gradjane-u-backoj-palanci-i-vrbasu/>): 12 Aug 2025
- [Radio Slobodna Evropa: Incidents in Vrbas and Bačka Palanka, four police officers injured](<https://www.slobodnaevropa.org/a/srbija-backa-palanka-vrbas-sns-sukobi-policija/33501412.html>): 12 Aug 2025
- [N1: According to the Interior Ministry, there was no attack by Progressives on citizens: "Demonstrators pelted SNS and the police"](<https://n1info.rs/vesti/prema-mup-napad-naprednjaka-na-gradjane-nije-se-desio-demonstranti-gadjali-sns-i-policiju/>): 12 Aug 2025
- [Radio Slobodna Evropa: The day after the incidents in Vrbas and Bačka Palanka: How did the police respond?](<https://www.slobodnaevropa.org/a/sukobi-vrbas-backa-palanka-sns-policija-demonstranti-srbija/33502326.html>): 13 Aug 2025
- [RTV (Radio-televizija Vojvodine): Vasiljević: More than 70 people injured in Vrbas and Bačka Palanka, gatherings were intended to cause clashes](<https://www.rtv.rs/sr_lat/drustvo/vasiljevic-u-vrbasu-i-backoj-palanci-povredjeno-vise-od-70-osoba-okupljanja-sa-namerom-sukoba_1649733.html>): 13 Aug 2025
- [N1: "The rampage started at the same time": How citizens experienced the attack by SNS supporters in Vrbas and Bačka Palanka](<https://n1info.rs/vesti/divljanje-pocelo-u-isto-vreme-kako-su-gradjani-doziveli-napad-pristalica-sns-u-vrbasu-i-backoj-palanci/>): 13 Aug 2025
- [N1: If you are a pensioner and throw a firecracker, you go to prison, but if you are an SNS supporter, the police "don't see" a criminal offence](<https://n1info.rs/vesti/ako-ste-penzioner-i-bacite-petardu-idete-u-zatvor-a-ako-ste-pristalica-sns-policija-ne-vidi-krivicno-delo/>): 13 Aug 2025
- [N1: Students in Bačka Palanka mark anniversary of the incidents: "Our fight goes on until justice is served"](<https://n1info.rs/vesti/studenti-backa-palanka-godisnjicu-incidenata/>): 16 Aug 2026
- [N1: Marta Kos condemns attacks on citizens and journalists at protests in Serbia](<https://n1info.rs/vesti/marta-kos-osudila-napade-na-gradjane-i-novinare-na-protestima-u-srbiji/>): 14 Aug 2025
- [N1: Ana Brnabić criticises Marta Kos and explains why "the EU is losing influence"](<https://n1info.rs/vesti/ana-brnabic-kritikuje-maru-kos-i-objasnjava-zasto-eu-gubi-uticaj/>): 14 Aug 2025
- [Radio Slobodna Evropa: How can the conflict in Serbia be de-escalated?](<https://www.slobodnaevropa.org/a/deeskalacija-sukobi-srbija-protesti-sns-policija/33504255.html>): 15 Aug 2025
- [Radio Slobodna Evropa: Clashes, tear gas and ruling party offices trashed at protests in Serbia](<https://www.slobodnaevropa.org/a/protest-srbija-sns-prostorije-suzavac-incidenti/33503414.html>): 15 Aug 2025
- [Radio Slobodna Evropa: Croatian and Slovenian nationals among those detained after riots in Serbia](<https://www.slobodnaevropa.org/a/neredi-srbija-privedeni/33504028.html>): 15 Aug 2025
- [Vreme: Pašalić: Police torture cases shelved, victims not cooperating](<https://vreme.com/?p=5019897>): 25 Sep 2026
- [Vreme: Vrbas: Demonstrators arrested over attack on police and SNS supporters](<https://vreme.com/vesti/vrbas-hapsenje-demonstranata-zbog-napada-na-policiju-i-pristalice-sns-a/>): 27 Aug 2025
- [021.rs: Arrested on suspicion of throwing pyrotechnics and stones at police and SNS supporters at Vrbas protest](<https://www.021.rs/novi-sad/hronika/419225/uhapseni-zbog-sumnje-da-su-na-protestu-u-vrbasu-pirotehnikom-i-kamenjem-gadjali-policiju-i-pristalice-sns>): 27 Aug 2025
- [021.rs: Criminal complaint against Brajan Brković over Vrbas protest: "The prosecutor has no eyes to see what happened"](<https://021.rs/story/Novi-Sad/Vesti/419311/Krivicna-prijava-protiv-Brajana-Brkovica-zbog-protesta-u-Vrbasu-Tuzilac-nema-oci-da-vidi-sta-se-desilo.html>): 28 Aug 2025
- [Radio Slobodna Evropa: People with criminal records defending SNS offices in Serbia](<https://www.slobodnaevropa.org/a/srbija-naprednjaci-odbrana-dosijei/33519846.html>): 5 Sep 2025
- [KRIK: Ćaci(ji): Guardians of the Party](<https://www.krik.rs/caciji-cuvari-partije/>): 5 Nov 2025
- [N1: A year since the Vrbas incidents: "So that terrible day is not forgotten"](<https://n1info.rs/vesti/godinu-dana-od-incidenata-u-vrbasu-da-se-ne-zaboravi-taj-strasan-dan/>): 12 Aug 2026
- [Vreme: Glas studenata Vrbas calls for protest: We have not forgiven you for 12 August](<https://vreme.com/vesti/studenti-vrbas-protest-sns-nasilje/>): 11 Aug 2026
- [N1: (VIDEO) Men with wooden clubs in Kneza Miloša Street in Belgrade](<https://n1info.rs/vesti/video-muskarci-sa-drvenim-palicama-u-kneza-milosa/>): 14 Aug 2025
- [Danas: Bursting at the seams? Protests across Serbia](<https://www.danas.rs/vesti/drustvo/pucate-po-savovima-protesti-sirom-srbije/>): 14 Aug 2025
- [N1: (VIDEO) City secretary Dejan Kesar among thugs with wooden clubs in Belgrade](<https://n1info.rs/vesti/video-gradski-sekretar-dejan-kesar-medju-batinasima-s-drvenim-palicama-u-beogradu/>): 15 Aug 2025
- [021.rs: VIDEO, PHOTO: Clashes outside SNS offices in Novi Sad too, party activists armed with chairs, wooden slats...](<https://www.021.rs/novi-sad/vesti/417876/video-foto-sukobi-i-ispred-sns-prostorija-u-novom-sadu-stranacki-aktivisti-opremljeni-stolicama-letvama>): 13 Aug 2025
- [Danas: Man convicted of attempted murder outside SNS offices in Novi Sad last night](<https://www.danas.rs/vesti/drustvo/sinoc-ispred-prostorija-sns-a-u-novom-sadu-muskarac-osudjen-za-pokusaj-ubistva/>): 13 Aug 2025
- [KRIK: Gorski Matović charged over attack on students at Novi Sad protest](<https://www.krik.rs/gorski-matovic-optuzen-za-napad-na-studente-na-protestu-u-novom-sadu/>): 28 Apr 2026
- [Danas: “Danas” identifies one of the attackers of students in Novi Sad](<https://www.danas.rs/vesti/drustvo/danas-prepoznao-jednog-od-napadaca-na-studente-u-novom-sadu/>): 16 Feb 2026
- [N1: Five Vrbas residents who were at Tuesday's citizens' protest arrested](<https://n1info.rs/vesti/uhapseno-petoro-vrbasana-koji-su-bili-na-gradjanskom-protestu-u-utorak/>): 14 Aug 2025
- [021.rs: VIDEO Tension in Bačka Palanka: Municipal president among SNS activists](<https://www.021.rs/story/Info/Vojvodina/417862/VIDEO-Napeto-u-Backoj-Palanci-Maskirane-muskarce-predvodi-predsednik-opstine.html>): 12 Aug 2025
- [Mašina: “Serbia or Mafia” protest in Bačka Palanka: A year on, no outcome over the attack on citizens](<https://www.masina.rs/protest-u-backoj-palanci-srbija-ili-mafija-godinu-dana-bez-epiloga-o-napadu-na-gradane/>): 4 Aug 2026
- [Razglas news: VIDEO: Tension in Bačka Palanka – SNS supporters pelt citizens with bottles and eggs, police cordon in between](<https://razglas-news.com/2025/08/11/video-skup-podrske-pretucenom-mestaninu-backe-palanke-pristalice-sns-gadaju-gradane-flasama-i-jajima/>): 11 Aug 2025
- [021.rs: VIDEO Bačka Palanka: SNS activists pelt citizens with eggs and water](<https://www.021.rs/story/Info/Vojvodina/417776/VIDEO-Backa-Palanka-Aktivisti-SNS-gadjaju-gradjane-jajima-i-vodom.html>): 11 Aug 2025
- [Danas: Who is the psychologist who filed a criminal complaint against Education Minister Dejan Vuk Stanković?](<https://www.danas.rs/vesti/drustvo/ko-je-psiholog-koji-je-protiv-ministra-prosvete-dejana-vuka-stankovica-podneo-krivicnu-prijavu/>): 26 Nov 2025
- [N1: Dragan Prpa, attacked at the protest in Bački Petrovac: The regime fears September](<https://n1info.rs/vesti/dragan-prpa-napadnut-na-protestu-u-backom-petrovcu-rezim-se-plasi-septembra/>): 12 Aug 2025
- [N1: Protest footage: Man with a badge pulls a gun on citizens in New Belgrade (VIDEO)](<https://n1info.rs/vesti/snimak-sa-protesta-muskarac-sa-znackom-vadio-pistolj-na-gradjane-na-novom-beogradu-video/>): 17 Aug 2025
- [N1: A pistol in one hand, a cigarette in the other: Police may use firearms when strictly necessary, but was that the case at the protests](<https://n1info.rs/vesti/u-jednoj-ruci-pistolj-u-drugoj-cigareta-policija-sme-da-upotrebi-vatreno-oruzje-kad-je-to-nuzno-a-da-li-je-to-bio-slucaj-na-protestima/>): 17 Aug 2025
- [N1: Blockading FON students say three inspectors pulled out pistols and beat people](<https://n1info.rs/vesti/studenti-fon-a-u-blokadi-objavili-da-su-tri-inspektora-izvadila-pistolje-i-tukla-ljude/>): 16 Aug 2025
- [Danas: From „fireworks“ to silence: Where did the SNS office guards go during the Novi Sad protest?](<https://www.danas.rs/vesti/drustvo/od-vatrometa-do-tisine-gde-su-nestali-cuvari-sns-prostorija-tokom-protesta-u-novom-sadu/>): 15 Aug 2025
- [Kreni-Promeni (sajt pokreta): Kreni-Promeni: Criminal complaints against Ivica Dačić and Dragan Vasiljević](<https://kreni-promeni.org/2025/08/14/kreni-promeni-krivicne-prijave-protiv-ivice-dacica-i-dragana-vasiljevica/>): 14 Aug 2025
- [N1: Kreni-Promeni: Criminal complaints against Dačić and Vasiljević, who helped SNS attackers](<https://n1info.rs/vesti/kreni-promeni-krivicne-prijave-protiv-dacica-i-vasiljevica-pomagali-naprednjacke-napadace/>): 14 Aug 2025

---

Source: Odgovornost, https://odgovornost.rs/en/afere/napadi-na-demonstrante-avgust-2025  
As of: 6 Nov 2026  
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.en)