The Belgrade Centre for Human Rights (BCHR) strongly condemns the biased and discriminatory conduct of the police, who have – particularly during recent protests across Serbia – sided with and protected exclusively the safety of Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) members, whilst leaving citizens protesting against the current authorities without protection and, in many cases, subjecting them to severe physical abuse.
To recall, citizens peacefully protesting in Vrbas in the evening of 12 August 2025 were attacked by SNS activists using pyrotechnics, frozen glass bottles and bricks, while the police remained passive, disregarding their duty to protect the safety, lives and physical integrity of the individuals under attack. The officers’ failure to protect the safety of the assaulted citizens in Vrbas bears all the elements of the crime under Article 344a (5) of the Criminal Code, wherefore the BCHR has filed a criminal report against several unidentified police officers with the Vrbas Basic Public Prosecution Service.
The police again acted with bias during protests in several cities across Serbia on Wednesday night, safeguarding only SNS members, while also abusing a number of citizens demonstrating against the authorities. Numerous photos and videos posted on social media capture the police’s cruel treatment of the protesters. One of them shows two police officers heavily punching a young man lying on the pavement, while, another shows an officer striking a man (surrounded by several police officers) with his elbow in the back of his neck and on his head – an unjustified and extremely dangerous use of force that could have had fatal consequences. Footage also shows police striking with an official baton (tonfa) a woman bending forward and shielding her head with her hands
Police bias and selectiveness have been evident for some time. To recall, police officers have been guarding and sealing off, with fences and glue, the area around the Belgrade Pionirski Park and part of Nikola Pašić Square in front of the National Assembly, under the excuse that a public gathering allegedly notified in accordance with the law is at issue. Under the Public Assembly Act, public gatherings may, as a rule, be held between 6:00 and 24:00, wherefore it is clear that no notification can justify a continuous five-month blockade of a public area. Within this fenced-off area, the police have tolerated acts of violence perpetrated by unidentified individuals against ordinary people and even journalists. On the other hand, they have attempted to disperse and interrupt certain spontaneous rallies and have filed misdemeanour charges against citizens for blocking pedestrian crosswalks.
In addition to violating the Constitution, ratified international treaties and domestic laws – as repeatedly pointed out by international institutions – biased policing in a time of deep social and political crisis directly contributes to its escalation and radicalisation, as more and more people subjected to unlawful police force express their anger and dissatisfaction with the police leadership and officers, along with readiness to resist it. Regardless of the political, party or other affiliation of participants in public assemblies, the police are under the duty to provide equal protection to all, prevent violence, refer those responsible for acts of violence for prosecution and refrain from any unlawful and unjustified use of force against citizens. Contrary to this duty, the leadership of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and in particular the Police Director, have sided with the Serbian Progressive Party, publicly laying all the blame for the violence in the streets solely on the protesters.
The BCHR will continue to document and report cases of unlawful police conduct towards citizens and to extend legal aid to victims of such actions.
