police brutality

Psychological warfare in Serbia: Nearly 1,000 detained without convictions

The grassroots initiative “Release them ALL!” has published a database showing that since November 1, 2024, over 900 people have been detained. On the other hand, the number of criminal convictions is negligible. Mašina spoke with Lawyers Rodoljub Šabić and Ivan Ninić on this phenomenon. The vast majority of these arrests are resolved within 48 hours, often without indictments being filed – which the initiative believes serves as a way to exhaust and intimidate protestors. The full database is available at this link.

Nationwide Street Blockades Grow Despite Mass Arrests and Police Repression

For a week, street blockades and other acts of civil disobedience have broken out throughout Serbia. In Belgrade, Niš, Novi Sad, and other cities, citizens have been blocking intersections and major roads to demand that the government hold snap parliamentary elections. In response, the police have been beating and arresting students and citizens alike – further fueling outrage and raising the stakes of a movement that shows no signs of backing down.