Police violence after the Vidovdan protest

Category: Violence against citizens

Period: from 28 Jun 2025

Outcome: No one investigated (as of 30 Jun 2025)

After the student rally “See You on Vidovdan” at Slavija ended on 28 June 2025, police pushed back the crowd with batons, shields and tear gas; according to observers, they made no distinction between peaceful and violent protesters. Citizens and camera operators were injured, and student Luka M. was struck in the face and suffered broken bones. The Interior Ministry claims the force used was minimal and that no chemical agents were used. Criminal complaints were filed against police officers, and indictments against protesters.

The night after the rally

The rally ended at around 21.40, and police cordons near Pionirski Park would not let the crowd through. Around 22 o'clock, police and the Gendarmerie began pushing people back down Kneza Miloša Street, Kralja Milana Street and Bulevar kralja Aleksandra, using batons, shields and tear gas.

YUCOM observers also recorded attacks on the police: bottles, firecrackers, flares and an attack on an officer who was lying on the ground.

Injured and detained

Luka M., a student at the Faculty of Technical Sciences (FTN), was struck in the face by a gendarme and suffered fractures to three skull bones, according to his father; help reached him only six or seven hours later. Anaesthesiologist Vladimir S. says he was hit with a baton when he tried to help the injured; he was released after nine days in custody.

A cameraman for the FoNet agency was hit with a baton and knocked down with a shield, and according to Dačić, 77 people were taken away and 38 detained.

What the police say

Police Director Dragan Vasiljević said minimal force had been used. Assistant Director Dejan Luković added that 48 police officers had been injured and that no chemical agents had been used, contrary to reports of tear gas.

Aleksandar Vučić accused the students of calling for clashes and, according to the BBC, called Vladimir S. a “donkey” who had “beaten police officers with a stick”.

Complaints and indictments

Beogradski centar za ljudska prava podneo je 30. juna krivične prijave protiv nepoznatih policajaca. Za studenta Luku M. tužilaštvo je do 30. septembra odbacilo prijavu koju je protiv njega podnela policija, a žandarm iz kordona je saslušan.

Više javno tužilaštvo podiglo je optužnice protiv dvojice učesnika protesta zbog napada na policiju. Protiv devetoro studenata, navodno uhapšenih posle protesta, podnelo je u septembru 2025. optužni predlog za pripremanje nasilne promene ustavnog uređenja, ali je od te optužbe odustalo u novembru 2026, pošto su sudovi kao nezakonite izdvojili dokaze iz posebnih dokaznih radnji. Navodno je jedan od njih skoro dva meseca proveo u kućnom pritvoru.

Participants

Gendarmerie, Interior Ministry: Its cordons pushed back the crowd with batons, shields and tear gas, and a member of the force punched student Luka M. in the face. (responsible)
Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Serbia: The police allegedly pushed back peaceful and violent protesters alike, and its complaint against the beaten student Luka M. was dismissed. (responsible)
Aleksandar Vučić: He accused the students of calling for clashes with the police, and called anaesthesiologist Vladimir S. a "donkey" who had been "beating police officers with a stick". (responsible)
Dragan Vasiljević: He said the police had acted with the utmost professionalism and used minimal force, and that several dozen rioters had been taken into custody. (commented on the case)
Dejan Luković: He said 48 police officers had been injured and that the police had not used chemical agents. (commented on the case)
Ivica Dačić: He said 77 people had been taken into custody after the protest, 38 of whom were held. (commented on the case)
Administration for the Enforcement of Criminal Sanctions: It confirmed that one of its officers had shackled the leg of detained student Luka M. in hospital, citing security procedure. (commented on the case)
Higher Public Prosecutor's Office in Belgrade, Special Department for Combating Corruption: Naložilo je zadržavanje 29 uhapšenih i optužilo učesnike protesta, a 2026. odustalo je od optužbe protiv devetoro studenata za rušenje ustavnog poretka. (investigation and courts)
Higher Court in Belgrade: It ordered custody for the injured student Luka M. and issued a wanted notice for him; he was then placed under house arrest. (investigation and courts)
Lawyers' Committee for Human Rights (YUCOM): It monitored the rally with five observers and concluded that the use of force after the rally ended was indiscriminate and disproportionate. (oversight and the public)
Belgrade Centre for Human Rights: It filed criminal complaints against unidentified police officers over excessive force, beatings on Lazarevićeva Street and the holding back of ambulances. (oversight and the public)