Attack on students outside the SNS offices in Novi Sad

Category: Violence against citizens

Period: from 28 Jan 2025

Outcome: Complaint dismissed or proceedings halted (as of 12 Oct 2026)

On the night of 27 to 28 January 2025, two groups of students putting up stickers calling for a protest were attacked in Novi Sad. According to the indictment, the first group was attacked by people who came out of the SNS offices, and the second by four defendants with sticks and kicks; one female student's jaw was broken. Prime Minister Miloš Vučević resigned, and four SNS activists were charged. President Aleksandar Vučić pardoned them before the trial ended, so the Basic Court dismissed the charges and guilt was never established.

Two attacks on students

On the night of 27 to 28 January 2025, two groups of students putting up stickers calling for a protest on 1 February were attacked in Novi Sad. According to the indictment, people who came out of the SNS offices on Bulevar oslobođenja first attacked students from the Faculty of Medicine, and then four defendants attacked students from the Academy of Arts with sticks and kicks near the Petőfi Sándor primary school; one female student's jaw was broken, and one male student was lightly injured.

Resignations, arrests and charges

The same day, Prime Minister and SNS president Miloš Vučević resigned, citing “objective responsibility”, as did Novi Sad mayor Milan Đurić. Police arrested four SNS activists, and in March the prosecutor's office charged them with grievous bodily harm and violent behaviour.

Pressure on the court

In May, Vučević and President Aleksandar Vučić announced a blockade of the court until the defendants were released, and Vučić published their names with the message “Freedom for the heroes”. On 2 June, the Higher Court lifted their custody.

Pardon and charges dismissed

On 2 July 2025, before the trial ended, Vučić pardoned all four, and on 15 July the Basic Court dismissed the charges and referred the victims to civil proceedings. Guilt was never established.

The Ministry of Justice refuses to publish the pardon proposal; constitutional complaints and an application to the European Court of Human Rights are awaiting a decision.

Participants

Aleksandar Vučić: He pardoned the four defendants in the attack before the trial ended, having earlier backed the blockade of the court with the message “Freedom for the heroes” (responsible)
Miloš Vučević: As SNS president, he announced a blockade of the court until the four defendants in the attack were released from custody (responsible)
Milan Đurić: He resigned the same day, together with Prime Minister Vučević (commented on the case)
Serbian Progressive Party: Through its president, Vučević, it announced a blockade of the court in Novi Sad until its activists charged with attacking the students were released (responsible)
Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Serbia: According to the injured parties' lawyers, the minister proposed the pardon; the ministry refused to release the proposal and the documents even after the Commissioner ordered it to (responsible)
Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Serbia: It arrested the four suspects and opened disciplinary proceedings against a police officer who allegedly photographed them (investigation and courts)
Basic Public Prosecutor's Office in Novi Sad: It sought detention because of the risk of witness tampering and filed an indictment for violent behaviour and grievous bodily harm (investigation and courts)
Basic Court in Novi Sad: It presided over the trial, at which the defendants denied guilt, and after the pardon dismissed the charges without any finding of guilt (investigation and courts)
Higher Court in Novi Sad: It lifted detention for three of them and replaced it for the fourth with house arrest under electronic monitoring (investigation and courts)
Constitutional Court of the Republic of Serbia: Two constitutional appeals against the case being ended by a pardon are pending, with no set deadline (investigation and courts)
European Court of Human Rights: An application was lodged with it over the pardon, citing the prohibition of torture (investigation and courts)
National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia: It did not formally acknowledge Miloš Vučević's resignation until 19 March 2025 (oversight and the public)
Commissioner for Information of Public Importance and Personal Data Protection: He ordered the Ministry of Justice to hand over the pardon proposal and issued a misdemeanour penalty order (oversight and the public)
Belgrade Centre for Human Rights: Together with lawyers, he filed a constitutional complaint and an application to the European Court and sought the pardon documents (oversight and the public)