Serbia: Pro-government media push 'sound cannon' conspiracy

State-aligned media and officials in Serbia have escalated a narrative accusing students of staging a "sound cannon" incident during a protest. Pro-government outlets claim reports of the device, which allegedly caused dizziness and nausea among attendees, were part of a pre-planned simulation designed to "politically assassinate" President Aleksandar Vučić.

The Higher Public Prosecutor's Office in Belgrade has launched an investigation. It is seeking information through the Ministry of Internal Affairs' anti-extremism unit. The probe could lead to prosecutions not only of protest organizers but also of journalists and citizens who reported experiencing symptoms after the alleged event.

Civil society groups and independent experts have condemned the government's actions, calling it a dangerous orchestration of state propaganda. Rasa Nedeljkov of CRTA described the government's theory, that thousands of strangers coordinated a simulation, as "an insult to intelligence." Critics argue that the judiciary is being instrumentalized to pave the way for broader repression.

Minister of Justice Nenad Vujić suggested the events might contain "elements of terrorism" due to an alleged intent to cause public insecurity. Independent activists fear these accusations aim to criminalize the student movement and potentially prevent their participation in future elections by labeling them as extremist or terrorist entities.

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an insult to intelligence