Police violence at the protests against the curfew

Category: Violence against citizens

Period: 7 Jul 2020 – 11 Jul 2020

Outcome: Statute of limitations expired (as of 10 Jul 2026)

When President Aleksandar Vučić announced a new COVID curfew in July 2020, thousands of people protested in Belgrade and other cities, and police dispersed them with tear gas, stun grenades, mounted officers and armoured vehicles. According to Amnesty International, more than 70 people were seriously injured and 223 were arrested. The Ombudsman found that force had been used unlawfully in eight cases, but the officers were never identified. According to the Belgrade Centre for Human Rights, the absolute statute of limitations expired in July 2026, and no police officer has faced criminal charges.

Curfew and protests

On 7 July 2020, President Aleksandar Vučić announced a new weekend curfew because of a rise in covid cases. That same evening, thousands of people gathered outside the National Assembly, and over the following days the protests spread to Novi Sad, Niš and other cities. On 9 July, the Government dropped the curfew.

Beatings in the streets and in the park

Police dispersed the demonstrators with tear gas, stun grenades, mounted officers and armoured vehicles. Officers were filmed beating three men sitting on a bench in Pioneers Park with batons, and Beta news agency journalist Žikica Stevanović was beaten even though he was showing his press card.

According to Amnesty International, more than 70 people were seriously injured and 223 were arrested; according to the Belgrade Centre for Human Rights, at least 150 police officers exceeded their powers and around 50 people suffered police violence.

Vučić and Stefanović defend the police

Vučić and Interior Minister Nebojša Stefanović defended the conduct of the police and described the protest as violence and an attempt to seize power.

The Ombudsman's findings

In February 2021, the Ombudsman found that force had been used unlawfully in eight cases and that the officers had no visible identification. Internal Affairs identified those responsible in only one case.

Complaints left to expire

Around 30 criminal complaints were filed, but the police officers who beat people were never identified, and the prosecutors kept the cases on file until the perpetrators were found or the statute of limitations ran out. The only police officer the Interior Ministry filed a complaint against, over a young man knocked off his bicycle in Novi Sad, was not charged: the complaint was dismissed.

According to the Belgrade Centre for Human Rights, the absolute statute of limitations on criminal prosecution expired in July 2026; no police officer has been held criminally accountable. In several civil suits the state was found liable for damages, and some proceedings and a constitutional appeal are still ongoing.

Participants

Aleksandar Vučić: On 7 July 2020 he announced a ban on gatherings of more than five people and a curfew from Friday to Monday (commented on the case)
Nebojša Stefanović: He called the protests "naked violence" and an attempt to seize power, and said the police had shown "maximum restraint" (commented on the case)
Vladimir Rebić: After the first night of protests, he announced that 43 police officers and 17 demonstrators had been seriously injured (commented on the case)
Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Serbia: According to the Protector of Citizens, police officers without insignia used unlawful force in July 2020, and also beat people sitting on a bench and a Beta journalist (responsible)
Government of the Republic of Serbia: On 9 July it dropped plans to impose the curfew that had triggered the first demonstrations (commented on the case)
Milan Đurić: He reportedly gave a 40,000-dinar award, on the police's recommendation, to a police officer who had been accused of attacking a young man at a 2020 protest. (responsible)
Internal Control Sector of the Interior Ministry (MUP): According to the Ombudsman, police officers who used unlawful force at the protests were identified in only one case (responsible)
First Basic Public Prosecutor's Office in Belgrade: It questioned those who filed complaints against police officers only after seven or eight months, and in 2026 the prosecution became time-barred and no one was held accountable (responsible)
Basic Public Prosecutor's Office in Zrenjanin: It dismissed the criminal complaint against two police officers who knocked a young man off his bicycle in Novi Sad and kicked him (responsible)
Constitutional Court of the Republic of Serbia: A constitutional appeal over an ineffective investigation is pending before it after the complaint over the Novi Sad cyclist was dismissed (investigation and courts)
Court of Appeal in Novi Sad: According to the Belgrade Centre, it handed down the only final ruling on damages; the appeal in the cyclist's case is still before it (investigation and courts)
Zoran Pašalić: It launched an inquiry into the police, first announced that officers had not exceeded their powers, then found unlawful force in eight cases (oversight and the public)
Protector of Citizens (Ombudsman): He launched a review of police conduct and found impermissible force, unidentified officers and violations of citizens' physical integrity (oversight and the public)
Belgrade Centre for Human Rights: It stated that 32 complaints had been filed over police violence and that the statute of limitations on prosecution had expired without any officer being held accountable (oversight and the public)
Belgrade Centre for Security Policy: It demanded that the prosecution explain why police beat people who were sitting peacefully on a bench (oversight and the public)
Amnesty International: Its report cited more than 70 people seriously injured, 223 arrested, and no police officer prosecuted by the end of 2020 (oversight and the public)
Journalists' Association of Serbia: It recorded that 28 journalists, camera operators and photojournalists were attacked or obstructed between 7 and 11 July (oversight and the public)
European Court of Human Rights: It found a violation of the right to a fair trial of an arrested protester; the Chamber judgment is not yet final (oversight and the public)