NGOs urge UN probe into alleged sonic weapon use at Belgrade protest

A coalition of Serbian non-governmental organizations has formally requested the United Nations to investigate the alleged use of a sonic weapon against protesters in Belgrade on March 15, 2025. The NGOs issued a joint statement urging the UN to launch a fact-finding mission, citing insufficient transparency and contradictory statements from Serbian officials as reasons for an independent international inquiry.

Reports describe the crowd scattering and fleeing from what was perceived as a sound wave during the protest. While Serbian authorities have denied deploying a sonic device, they have acknowledged possessing such equipment. Both the FBI and Russia's FSB were reportedly called in to investigate the incident. The FSB concluded there was no evidence to support the claims, while the FBI declined to comment.

The NGOs argue that Serbian institutions have failed to provide a credible and comprehensive explanation for the event. They expressed serious concerns regarding the potential use of prohibited or unacknowledged crowd-control technology against civilians. The group is appealing to the UN Human Rights Council to dispatch an independent mission to ascertain the facts, gather witness accounts, and examine all available video and audio evidence related to the incident.