Academic Initiatives Ask Prime Minister Macut: Who Ordered Police Violence in Valjevo?

Academic groups across Serbia have addressed an open letter to Prime Minister Đuro Macut, demanding answers about the police brutality that occurred during protests in Valjevo one year prior. The letter, sent on the anniversary of the events, specifically questions who ordered the violent police intervention.

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We are sure that your subordinates informed you that about 60 citizens sought medical assistance at the Valjevo Health Center.

The signatories, representing various academic initiatives including the "Rebellious University" and "Free Universities" in Novi Sad, Kragujevac, and Niš, recall the night of August 14-15, 2025. They describe a brutal police crackdown on a peaceful citizen protest, resulting in dozens of young people, including minors, being severely beaten. Approximately 60 individuals reportedly sought medical attention at the Valjevo Health Center following the incident.

A year later, the public remains unaware of who commanded the excessive use of force and which police officers and commanders will be held accountable. The academic initiatives are demanding a full disclosure of facts, the results of official proceedings, and the prosecution of anyone found to have abused police authority or exceeded the permissible use of force.

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A year later, the public still does not know the most important thing: who ordered such brutal use of force, who led it, and which police officers and their commanders will be held responsible and when?

They specifically question why force was used against peaceful protesters and call for an end to any obstruction of investigations conducted by the Ministry of Internal Affairs' Internal Control Service. The letter urges the Prime Minister to utilize his position to ensure an independent, complete, and effective investigation, emphasizing that accountability is essential for establishing a basic sense of justice in a democratic society.

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Courage is not just a word someone says about themselves. Courage is proven by deeds in challenging situations.

The letter concludes by challenging Prime Minister Macut to demonstrate courage through action, stating that a state where citizens are beaten by police and accountability is withheld for a year cannot be considered a state governed by the rule of law, especially as an EU candidate country. They assert that truth does not expire and that memories of the violence will persist despite official silence.

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A state in which the police beat citizens, and then for a year does not provide an answer as to who is responsible for it, is not a state of law and a candidate country for the European Union.