Serbian opposition figure Zdravko Ponoš has been interrogated by police following his claims that authorities deployed a sonic weapon against demonstrators during a large-scale protest in Belgrade on March 15, 2025. The inquiry is part of a broader investigation to assess whether Ponoš’s social media assertions regarding a “sound cannon” could potentially amount to inciting panic and disorder, according to prosecutors.
During the protest, which was among the largest in Serbia’s history, Ponoš accused the government of using a sonic device on peaceful demonstrators who were gathered for a silent vigil commemorating the victims of the Novi Sad railway station canopy collapse. The demonstration, which drew hundreds of thousands, was organized to demand accountability for the disaster. Witnesses reported an unusual loud noise preceding a sudden dispersal of the crowd, causing a brief stampede.
The Serbian authorities are actively investigating these claims, focusing on whether the sound cannon incident was genuine or misrepresented. They have been questioning protest organizers, participants, and individuals who have publicly commented on the event. Following his police interview, Ponoš claimed that details of the questioning were leaked to a pro-government media outlet.
In response to these developments, a coalition of Serbian civil society groups has urged the United Nations to initiate an independent fact-finding mission. They argue that the domestic investigation may be compromised by political influences, and an impartial examination is necessary to determine whether a sonic device was indeed employed during the protest.