On 29 April, the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) issued an interim measure instructing the Serbian Government to prevent any future use of sonic devices for crowd control purposes. The ruling follows allegations of acoustic weapons being used during the March 15 protest in Belgrade, where participants reported panic, injuries, and severe physical and psychological symptoms. The Court acknowledged that the use of such devices is not permitted under Serbian law and could pose serious health risks. The interim measure also calls for the protection of individuals engaging in public debate on the issue and demands that any deployment of sonic weapons, by state or non-state actors, must be strictly prohibited. This ECtHR decision marks a significant international response to growing concerns about protest policing and the shrinking space for peaceful assembly in Serbia. Read more here.
