# “Sound cannon” at Belgrade protest

Category: Violence against citizens  
Period: from 15 Mar 2025  
Outcome: No one investigated (as of 13 Sep 2026)  

During a silence for the victims of the canopy collapse at a protest in Belgrade on 15 March 2025, people present say they heard a loud, unusual sound, and panic broke out; thousands of people later reported dizziness, nausea and hearing problems. Parts of the opposition and civil society claimed a “sound cannon” had been used, which the authorities deny; the cause has not been independently established. The Higher Public Prosecutor's Office in Belgrade concluded in September 2026 that there were no grounds for criminal proceedings, and after the elections a commission of the Supreme Public Prosecutor's Office took up the case for review.

## Panic on Kralja Milana Street

At a large protest in Belgrade on 15 March 2025, during a fifteen-minute silence for the victims of the Novi Sad canopy collapse, people in Kralja Milana Street say they heard a loud and unusual sound at around 19:11. Panic followed, and people suddenly fled the roadway.

Thousands of people then reported symptoms such as dizziness, nausea and hearing problems. The cause of the incident and of the symptoms has not been independently established.

## Accusations and the authorities' denial

Parts of the opposition and civil society organisations claimed that a “sound cannon” had been used. The authorities denied this; Interior Minister Ivica Dačić confirmed that the Interior Ministry owns LRAD devices bought in 2021, but claimed they had not been used.

At the government's invitation, Russia's FSB concluded that the police devices had not been used; no response from the FBI has been published.

## Questioning, and a measure from the Strasbourg court

The First Basic Public Prosecutor's Office conducted pre-investigation proceedings and questioned around 200 citizens. With the consent of the First Basic Public Prosecutor's Office, the police also interviewed LDP leader Čedomir Jovanović after his remarks on Tanjug television about the protest and the “sound cannon”. The European Court of Human Rights issued an interim measure ordering Serbia to prevent the use of sound devices for crowd control, without taking a position on what happened on 15 March.

## The Higher Prosecutor's Office's conclusion

In June 2026, the Higher Public Prosecutor's Office in Belgrade said it suspected that students had planned a “simulation” of a sound cannon being used, which the students reject. In September 2026, it said there were no grounds for criminal proceedings over the use of the device and that it would prosecute those who, in its view, had spread falsehoods.

Some lawyers, as well as the group of judges and prosecutors “Odbrana struke”, dispute that conclusion.

## Review by the Supreme Prosecutor's Office

After the election on 25 October 2026, Supreme Public Prosecutor Zagorka Dolovac ordered prosecutors' offices to give a commission of the Supreme Public Prosecutor's Office access to their case files. On 28 October, the commission selected six cases of the Higher Public Prosecutor's Office in Belgrade for review, among them the sound cannon case.

That prosecutor's office says it gave the commission access to everything it requested, and calls the reporting on the oversight an open attack on itself.

## Participants

- [Aleksandar Vučić](https://odgovornost.rs/en/osobe/aleksandar-vucic): According to a criminal complaint by the Democratic Party, he used an acoustic weapon at the protest on 15 March 2025. (responsible)
- [Ivica Dačić](https://odgovornost.rs/en/osobe/ivica-dacic): He confirmed that the Interior Ministry has LRAD devices bought in 2021 and that a vehicle carrying the device was near the National Assembly, but claimed they were not used (commented on the case)
- [Miloš Vučević](https://odgovornost.rs/en/osobe/milos-vucevic): He said that no sound cannon had been used by either the police or any other state body, and that the government was ready to invite the FBI and the FSB (commented on the case)
- [Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Serbia](https://odgovornost.rs/en/organizacije/mup-srbije): It called the allegations that a “sound cannon” was used on 15 March “disinformation”, citing a statement by the manufacturer Genasys as evidence (commented on the case)
- [Security Information Agency](https://odgovornost.rs/en/organizacije/bia): It said that no one had used a sound cannon and that it had never had one, and published the Russian service's report (commented on the case)
- [Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation (FSB)](https://odgovornost.rs/en/organizacije/fsb): According to Vučić's reading of the report, it concluded that the Serbian police's sound devices had not been used (commented on the case)
- [First Basic Public Prosecutor's Office in Belgrade](https://odgovornost.rs/en/organizacije/prvo-ojt-beograd): It opened a case, stated that no one on security duty had used a sound cannon, and questioned around 170 citizens (investigation and courts)
- [Higher Public Prosecutor's Office in Belgrade, Special Department for Combating Corruption](https://odgovornost.rs/en/organizacije/vjt-beograd): In June 2026 it ordered the police to interview everyone who had claimed the cannon was used, and in September it dismissed the case: "a panicked chain reaction" (responsible)
- [Nenad Stefanović](https://odgovornost.rs/en/osobe/nenad-stefanovic): As higher public prosecutor, he ordered Zdravko Ponoš to be brought in over his posts about the sound cannon; a High Prosecutorial Council commission revoked that instruction (responsible)
- [Miodrag Marković](https://odgovornost.rs/en/osobe/miodrag-markovic): He said the prosecutor's office had identified 151 injured parties and that, in his assessment, their symptoms did not stem from any serious acute trauma (investigation and courts)
- [Public Prosecutor's Office for Organised Crime](https://odgovornost.rs/en/organizacije/jtok): It received complaints over the alleged use of a sound weapon and classified the case as "Strictly confidential" (investigation and courts)
- [European Court of Human Rights](https://odgovornost.rs/en/organizacije/esljp): On 29 April 2025 it issued an interim measure requiring the Government to prevent the use of sound devices for crowd control (investigation and courts)
- [Protector of Citizens (Ombudsman)](https://odgovornost.rs/en/organizacije/zastitnik-gradjana): It opened proceedings over claims that a sound cannon was used on 15 March; no outcome of the proceedings has been found (oversight and the public)
- [Alice Edwards](https://odgovornost.rs/en/osobe/alice-edwards): After the Government's response, she said it was not enough to say "it wasn't us"; UN rapporteurs asked for information on the investigation (oversight and the public)
- [European Parliament](https://odgovornost.rs/en/organizacije/evropski-parlament): In a resolution of 22 October 2025, it stated that the investigation, with more than 170 statements, was at an early stage and that no indictments had been filed (oversight and the public)
- [Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe](https://odgovornost.rs/en/organizacije/pace): In June 2026 it expressed regret over the alleged use of a sound weapon at the protest on 15 March (oversight and the public)
- [Marinika Tepić](https://odgovornost.rs/en/osobe/marinika-tepic): She presented documents which, she claims, show that the Interior Ministry bought 16 LRAD devices for 81 million dinars in a direct deal in 2021 (oversight and the public)
- [Aleksandar Olenik](https://odgovornost.rs/en/osobe/aleksandar-olenik): Summoned for an informal police interview in the case on causing panic and disorder over posts about the sound cannon (oversight and the public)
- [Zdravko Ponoš](https://odgovornost.rs/en/osobe/zdravko-ponos): President of Serbia Centre; prosecutors sought to have him brought in by force, and in 2026 he was interviewed over his post about the "sound cannon" (harmed)
- [Students in blockade](https://odgovornost.rs/en/organizacije/studenti-u-blokadi): Protest organisers; the Higher Public Prosecutor's Office suspects them of "simulation", which they reject (harmed)
- [Goran Ilić](https://odgovornost.rs/en/osobe/goran-ilic): Heads the commission that took the "sound cannon" case under review on 28 October 2026 (investigation and courts)
- [Zagorka Dolovac](https://odgovornost.rs/en/osobe/zagorka-dolovac): On 28 October 2026 ordered all prosecutor's offices to give the commission access to any case it requests (investigation and courts)
- [Supreme Public Prosecutor's Office](https://odgovornost.rs/en/organizacije/vrhovno-javno-tuzilastvo): On 28 October 2026 the commission took the "sound cannon" case of the Higher Public Prosecutor's Office in Belgrade under review (investigation and courts)
- [Defence of the Profession](https://odgovornost.rs/en/organizacije/odbrana-struke): Said the Higher Public Prosecutor's Office analysis has no author or stamp and that no independent expert examination was carried out (oversight and the public)
- [Savo Manojlović](https://odgovornost.rs/en/osobe/savo-manojlovic): With the Kreni-Promeni movement, filed criminal complaints over the prosecution's handling of the "sound cannon" case (oversight and the public)
- [Čedomir Jovanović](https://odgovornost.rs/en/osobe/cedomir-jovanovic): He spoke on Tanjug television about the events of 15 March and the “sound cannon”, after which the police summoned him for an interview (commented on the case)

## Victims and others harmed

- [Marko Samardžić](https://odgovornost.rs/en/osobe/marko-samardzic)

## Sources

- [N1: Prosecutors: no "sound cannon" was used, we are working to establish "the reason that caused the citizens' behaviour"](<https://n1info.rs/vesti/tuzilastvo-nije-upotrebljen-zvucni-top-radimo-na-utvrdjivanju-razloga-izazivanja-ponasanja-gradjana/>): 18 Mar 2025
- [Radio Slobodna Evropa: Russia's FSB concluded no 'sound cannon' was used at the protest, Vučić said](<https://www.slobodnaevropa.org/a/vucic-zvucni-top-istraga-fsb/33387475.html>): 16 Apr 2025
- [Radio Slobodna Evropa: “We bought them, but we don’t use them”: Everything about the sound cannon](<https://www.slobodnaevropa.org/a/33355182.html>): 20 Mar 2025
- [021.rs: New analysis of footage and 3,000 testimonies: What alarmed the crowd](<https://www.021.rs/story/Info/Srbija/404324/Organizacije-civilnog-drustva-Primljeno-vise-od-3000-svedocenja-gradjana-o-desavanjima-u-Beogradu.html>): 17 Mar 2025
- [Evropski sud za ljudska prava: Interim measure issued in sonic weapon case (ECHR press release 110 (2025))](<https://hudoc.echr.coe.int/app/conversion/pdf/?library=ECHR&id=003-8218357-11546478&filename=Privremena%20mera.pdf>): 30 Apr 2025
- [Radio Slobodna Evropa: Tepić says Serbia has LRAD devices, Dačić and Vučić say they are not used as 'sound cannons'](<https://www.slobodnaevropa.org/a/srbija-tepic-dacic-mup-lrad-zvucni-top-protesti-studenti-beograd/33352924.html>): 19 Mar 2025
- [Radio Slobodna Evropa: Serbian government ready to invite the FBI and FSB to investigate sound cannon allegations, outgoing prime minister says](<https://www.slobodnaevropa.org/a/33350444.html>): 17 Mar 2025
- [N1: Pro-government media reported that the “FBI confirmed the sound cannon was not fired”, though it was never made public that the US agency had looked into it](<https://n1info.rs/vesti/prorezimski-mediji-fbi-zvucni-top/>): 22 Jun 2026
- [N1: Dačić on LRAD: We use the device for warnings, and using it as a sound cannon is prohibited](<https://n1info.rs/vesti/dacic-o-vozilu-zandarmerije-ovi-uredjaji-se-ne-koriste-i-zabranjeno-je-koriscenje-u-funkciji-zvucnog-topa/>): 19 Mar 2025
- [Vreme: Sound cannons were in action: Tested before the protest](<https://vreme.com/vesti/zvucni-topovi-bili-u-akciji-zandarm-demantuje-drzavu/>): 19 Mar 2025
- [021.rs: Interior Ministry again denies a sound cannon was used in Belgrade on 15 March](<https://www.021.rs/story/Info/Srbija/404783/MUP-opet-demantuje-upotrebu-zvucnog-topa-15-marta-u-Beogradu.html>): 22 Mar 2025
- [021.rs: Sound cannon investigation: Prosecutors will take statements from all citizens who reported symptoms](<https://www.021.rs/info/srbija/406130/istraga-o-zvucnom-topu-tuzilastvo-ce-uzeti-izjave-od-svih-gradjana-koji-su-prijavili-tegobe>): 5 Apr 2025
- [N1: DS files criminal complaint against Vučić over use of a sound cannon](<https://n1info.rs/vesti/ds-predala-krivicnu-prijavu-protiv-nn-lica-zbog-koriscenja-zvucnog-topa/>): 23 Apr 2025
- [021.rs: Higher Public Prosecutor’s Office: Revoking the instruction to detain Ponoš ignores the Constitution and the law](<https://www.021.rs/story/Info/Srbija/406230/Vise-javno-tuzilastvo-Ukidanje-uputstva-da-se-Ponos-privede-je-ignorisanje-Ustava-i-zakona.html>): 6 Apr 2025
- [Vreme: Is the Higher Prosecutor's Office preparing new charges against students over an alleged attempt to violently overthrow the constitutional order?](<https://vreme.com/vesti/rusenje-ustavnog-poretka-studenti-zvucni-top-vise-javno-tuzilastvo/>): 19 Jun 2026
- [021.rs: Prosecutors: Case over 15 March in Belgrade is strictly confidential](<https://www.021.rs/info/srbija/411125/tuzilastvo-predmet-o-15-martu-u-beogradu-strogo-poverljiv>): 29 May 2025
- [N1: FSB report cannot be evidence in the proceedings](<https://n1info.rs/vesti/izvestaj-fsb-ne-moze-biti-dokaz-u-postupku/>): 23 Jun 2026
- [Radio Slobodna Evropa: European Court issues interim measure in Belgrade “sound cannon” case](<https://www.slobodnaevropa.org/a/evropski-sud-za-ljudska-prava-beograd-zvucni-top/33401152.html>): 30 Apr 2025
- [Vreme: UN: Serbia must give an official response on the sound cannon](<https://vreme.com/vesti/un-od-srbije-trazi-zvanican-odgovor-u-vezi-sa-zvucnim-topom/>): 5 Jun 2025
- [N1: UN rapporteur on the sound cannon: “It wasn’t us” is not an adequate answer](<https://n1info.rs/vesti/izvestiteljka-un-o-zvucnom-topu-odgovor-nismo-mi-nije-dovoljan/>): 12 Jun 2025
- [Evropski parlament: Rezolucija Evropskog parlamenta od 22. oktobra 2025. o polarizaciji i povećanoj represiji u Srbiji (P10_TA(2025)0248)](<https://data.europarl.europa.eu/distribution/doc/TA-10-2025-0248_en.pdf>): 22 Oct 2025
- [N1: PSSE Saveta Evrope izražava žaljenje zbog upotrebe zvučnog oružja na protestu u Beogradu](<https://n1info.rs/english/news/coe-pace-deplores-use-of-sonic-weapon-at-belgrade-protest/>): 23 Jun 2026
- [N1: Higher Prosecutor’s Office seeks information: Students suspected of “planning a sound cannon simulation” on 15 March](<https://n1info.rs/vesti/vjt-trazi-prikupljanje-informacija-sumnjaju-da-su-studenti-planirali-simulaciju-zvucnog-topa-15-marta/>): 19 Jun 2026
- [N1: Students refute Higher Prosecutor's Office: sound cannon was considered as a risk to peaceful protests](<https://n1info.rs/vesti/studenti-demantuju-vjt-zvucni-top/>): 19 Jun 2026
- [N1: Higher Prosecutor's Office: Ponoš was the first to claim a sound cannon was used against citizens](<https://n1info.rs/vesti/vjt-zdravko-ponos-zvucni-top/>): 1 Jul 2026
- [Vreme: Higher Prosecutor's Office: It was panic, not a „sound cannon“](<https://vreme.com/vesti/zvucni-top-15-mart-2025-panika-vise-javno-tuzilastvo/>): 13 Sep 2026
- [Newsmax Balkans: Higher Public Prosecutor's Office in Belgrade: No sound cannon was used on 15 March 2025, those who spread falsehoods will be prosecuted](<https://newsmaxbalkans.com/vesti/hronika/69731/zvucni-top-nije-koriscen-na-skupu-navodi-vise-tuzilastvo/vest>): 13 Sep 2026
- [Srpske novine: Miljuš asks prosecutor Marković to question him about the sound cannon](<https://srpske.rs/vesti/politika/2026/09/16/zvucni-top-miljus-trazi-da-ga-tuzilac-markovic-saslusa-kao-svedoka>): 16 Sep 2026
- [N1: Prosecutor Marković: No sound cannon was used on 15 March, all perpetrators will be prosecuted, no one will get away with it](<https://n1info.rs/vesti/tuzilac-markovic-nije-upotrebljen-zvucni-top-15-marta-svi-ucinioci-ce-biti-procesuirani-niko-se-nece-izvuci>): 15 Sep 2026
- [N1: SRCE and LSV on the sound cannon: Interior Ministry is selling LRAD devices to remove evidence of their possible use on 15 March](<https://n1info.rs/vesti/srce-i-lsv-o-zvucnom-topu-mup-prodaje-lrad-uredjaje-da-bi-uklonio-dokaze-o-eventualnoj-upotrebi-15-marta/>): 24 Jul 2026
- [N1: Former national team player hospitalised on 15 March: It is unacceptable that those whose lives were in danger that night have to justify themselves](<https://n1info.rs/vesti/bivsi-reprezentativac-koji-je-zavrsio-u-bolnici-15-marta-neprihvatljivo-da-oni-kojima-je-te-noci-zivot-bio-ugrozen-treba-da-se-pravdaju/>): 21 Jun 2026
- [N1: Odbrana struke: Higher Prosecutor's Office document and analysis of the "sound cannon" lack expert examination and rest on social media searches](<https://n1info.rs/vesti/odbrana-struke-dokument-i-analiza-vjt-o-zvucnom-topu-bez-strucnog-vestacenja-zasnovan-na-pretrazi-po-drustvenim-mrezama/>): 15 Sep 2026
- [Danas: Judges and prosecutors say the Higher Prosecutor's Office analysis of the sound cannon is unknown in the practice of courts and prosecutors' offices](<https://www.danas.rs/vesti/drustvo/sudije-tuzioci-zvucni-top/>): 15 Sep 2026
- [Insajder: Prosecutor Goran Ilić heads Zagorka Dolovac's commission: six cases taken over, including the “sound cannon”](<https://insajder.net/vesti/tuzilac-goran-ilic-rukovodi-komisijom-zagorke-dolovac-preuzeto-sest-predmeta-medu-kojima-i-zvucni-top>): 28 Oct 2026
- [Vreme: Media: Review under way of the canopy, sound cannon, wiretapping and Senjak cases…](<https://vreme.com/vesti/u-toku-provera-slucajeva-nadstresnica-zvucni-top-prisluskivanje-senjak/>): 28 Oct 2026
- [Tanjug: Higher Public Prosecutor's Office: Media reporting on the Commission's review of cases is pressure on the prosecution and the prosecutor](<https://www.tanjug.rs/srbija/politika/293541/vise-javno-tuzilastvo-pisanje-medija-o-nadzoru-komisije-nad-predmetima-pritisak-na-tuzilastvo-i-tuzioca/vest>): 29 Oct 2026
- [Euronews: Belgrade Higher Prosecutor's Office on Dolovac's review: This is an open attack on us](<https://www.euronews.rs/srbija/aktuelno/249691/vjt-beograd-o-nadzoru-dolovac-ovo-je-otvoreni-napad-na-nas/vest>): 29 Oct 2026
- [Insajder: Prosecutor Ilić: Commission is establishing whether prosecutors, driven by political pressure, violated human rights](<https://insajder.net/vesti/tuzilac-ilic-komisija-utvrduje-da-li-su-tuzioci-vodeni-politickim-pritiscima-krsili-ljudska-prava>): 29 Oct 2026
- [Nova.rs: Kreni-Promeni files criminal complaint against prosecutor Miodrag Marković for covering up the sound cannon case](<https://nova.rs/vesti/hronika/kreni-promeni-podneo-krivicnu-prijavu-protiv-tuzioca-miodraga-markovica-zbog-zataskavanja-slucaja-zvucnog-topa/>): 4 Nov 2026
- [Danas: Kreni-Promeni files criminal complaints against prosecutor Marković over the sound cannon case](<https://www.danas.rs/vesti/drustvo/kreni-promeni-podneo-krivicne-prijave-protiv-tuzioca-markovica-zbog-slucaja-zvucni-top/>): 4 Nov 2026
- [N1: Čedomir Jovanović questioned by police after Tanjug appearance and remarks on the sound cannon](<https://n1info.rs/vesti/cedomir-jovanovic-saslusan-u-policiji-posle-gostovanja-na-tanjugu-i-izjava-o-zvucnom-topu/>): 7 Apr 2025
- [Danas: Čeda Jovanović's remarks stir the public and bring the “sound cannon” back into focus](<https://www.danas.rs/vesti/drustvo/ceda-jovanovic-izjave-zvucni-top/>): 7 Apr 2025

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Source: Odgovornost, https://odgovornost.rs/en/afere/zvucni-top-15-mart  
As of: 6 Nov 2026  
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.en)