# Police beat and arrested activists at Šodroš Category: Violence against citizens Period: from 18 Oct 2022 Outcome: No one investigated (as of 4 Nov 2022) On 18 October 2022 police formed a cordon to guard workers fencing off Šodroš in Novi Sad for a bridge over the Danube, and allegedly beat and detained residents who tried to stop them. The clashes were repeated on 23 October and on 24 March 2023. Misdemeanour and criminal complaints were filed against the detained activists, and Isidora Čeleketić was convicted of insulting an official. The activists reported the police to the Interior Ministry's internal affairs unit. Activist Miloš Rakić was still on trial in 2026, and a UN rapporteur asked the court to dismiss the charge. ## Fence and cordon, 18 October 2022 On 18 October 2022, workers from the Chinese company CRBC began putting up a fence for preparatory works on the fourth bridge over the Danube, guarded by a police intervention unit. Activists from the “Šodroš Survivor” camp tried to stop them. The cordon used physical force and began detaining people, among them older people and women. Magdalena Rašković says officers kicked her and did not tell her who they were, as they were not wearing insignia that day. Ten activists were detained, and 11 misdemeanour complaints and two criminal complaints were filed against them. ## Protest of 23 October 2022 At the protest on 23 October, members of the Gendarmerie tried to push some of the people towards the forest. Two to three people were injured in the pushing and shoving; one of them said they had suffered head injuries from a shield they were struck with. Three people were detained. On 4 November, activists filed a complaint with the Interior Ministry's internal affairs unit over police conduct: excessive force, and officers without identification, most of them masked. They submitted the complaint to the Novi Sad Police Department. ## Felling and arrests, 24 March 2023 The felling of 140 trees at Šodroš began on 24 March 2023 under a heavy police presence. In a brief clash with activists, one was punched in the head, and a police officer knelt on another's neck. Police detained ten activists, among them older people who had sat down in front of “Vojvodinašume” trucks to stop the logs being taken away. All were released with misdemeanour complaints, and Miloš Rakić also with a criminal complaint. Branislava Kostić, who was among those detained, says a police officer in the vehicle threatened one of the arrested with a beating. ## Complaints and verdict Police filed misdemeanour complaints against those detained for disturbing public order and peace, and criminal complaints over an alleged attack on an official. On 18 October 2022 Isidora Čeleketić received a criminal complaint for attacking an official, which she considers intimidation. In September 2024 the Misdemeanour Court in Novi Sad convicted her of insulting an official, according to a statement from her legal team from the Free Citizens' Movement. The team says the verdict rests solely on the police officers' claims, without hearing the witnesses she had asked for. ## The case of Miloš Rakić Rakić is charged with obstructing a police officer in the performance of official duties because, before the cordon had formed, he ran between officers. He says the officers stopped him and he stopped moving. The case before the Novi Sad Basic Court has been going on for more than three years. In 2026, the UN Special Rapporteur on Environmental Defenders wrote directly to the court and asked it to dismiss the criminal complaint. His letter reportedly says that police beat Rakić after knocking him to the ground; the state has not responded to his allegations from July 2025. ## Participants - [Novi Sad Police Department](https://odgovornost.rs/en/organizacije/pu-novi-sad): Its officers allegedly beat and detained activists defending Šodroš from the bridge works in October 2022 and March 2023 (responsible) - [Gendarmerie, Interior Ministry](https://odgovornost.rs/en/organizacije/zandarmerija): Its members allegedly shoved citizens at Šodroš on 23 October 2022, injuring two to three people (responsible) - [Internal Control Sector of the Interior Ministry (MUP)](https://odgovornost.rs/en/organizacije/sektor-unutrasnje-kontrole): It received the activists' complaint over excessive force and unmarked, masked officers at the protest on 23 October 2022 (oversight and the public) - [UN Special Rapporteur on Environmental Defenders](https://odgovornost.rs/en/organizacije/un-specijalni-izvestilac): He addressed the court in Novi Sad directly and asked it to dismiss the criminal complaint against activist Rakić (oversight and the public) - [Basic Court in Novi Sad](https://odgovornost.rs/en/organizacije/osnovni-sud-novi-sad): Is conducting criminal proceedings against activist Rakić for obstructing a police officer, which have lasted more than three years (investigation and courts) - [Misdemeanour Court in Novi Sad](https://odgovornost.rs/en/organizacije/prekrsajni-sud-novi-sad): According to a statement from the PSG legal team, it convicted activist Čeleketić of insulting an official at Šodroš (investigation and courts) - [Free Citizens Movement](https://odgovornost.rs/en/organizacije/psg): Its legal team claims Čeleketić was convicted without any witnesses being heard, solely on the word of police officers (oversight and the public) ## Victims and others harmed - [Miloš Rakić](https://odgovornost.rs/en/osobe/milos-rakic) - [Brajan Brković](https://odgovornost.rs/en/osobe/brajan-brkovic) - [Isidora Čeleketić](https://odgovornost.rs/en/osobe/isidora-celeketic) - [Magdalena Rašković](https://odgovornost.rs/en/osobe/magdalena-raskovic) ## Sources - [021.rs: PHOTOS, VIDEO: Several activists detained at Šodroš, police use force](): 18 Oct 2022 - [N1: Protest held at Šodroš, scuffles with police, three people detained](): 19 Oct 2022 - [Danas: Novi Sad: Šodroš activists released; 11 misdemeanour charges and two criminal complaints filed](): 18 Oct 2022 - [Danas: More incidents in Novi Sad: four activists arrested at Šodroš, new protests announced for Saturday (VIDEO, PHOTO)](): 19 Oct 2022 - [N1: Protest held at Šodroš: three injured, several people detained](): 23 Oct 2022 - [021.rs: VIDEO, PHOTO Šodroš protest ends: activists broke through the cordon, injuries and detentions](): 23 Oct 2022 - [021.rs: Complaint to the Interior Ministry's internal affairs unit over police conduct at Šodroš](): 4 Nov 2022 - [Danas: Tree felling begins at Šodroš: dozens of trees cut down, three activists detained (PHOTOS)](): 24 Mar 2023 - [021.rs: VIDEO: Activists clash with police over tree felling at Šodroš, some detained](): 24 Mar 2023 - [Nova.rs: All those arrested at Šodroš released; one criminal complaint and several misdemeanour charges filed](): 24 Mar 2023 - [Danas: Most activists at Šodroš detained for refusing to let a „Vojvodinašume“ truck through](): 24 Mar 2023 - [Autonomija: Six more activists arrested at Šodroš as truck arrives for the trees (VIDEO)](): 24 Mar 2023 - [N1: Šodroš protest case reaches the UN: Special Rapporteur writes directly to a Serbian court](): 25 May 2026 - [Vreme: Statement by Vojvodina organisations: police, political and urban planning violence at Šodroš](): 24 Mar 2023 - [021.rs: Novi Sad activist convicted over Šodroš events without witnesses being heard](): 13 Sep 2024 - [Danas: UN rapporteur responds to trial of environmental activist in Novi Sad: he ran past a cordon that had not yet formed, was hit with a criminal complaint and has been on trial for three years](): 20 May 2026 --- Source: Odgovornost, https://odgovornost.rs/en/afere/policijsko-nasilje-sodros As of: 6 Nov 2026 Licence: CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.en)