Overview

• Thousands marched through central Belgrade on September 8, stopping at the Palace of Justice and a police headquarters and spilling red paint as they demanded investigations and punishment of officers.
• Protesters highlighted specific cases, including student Nikolina Sindjelic’s account of beatings and sexual harassment in detention and student Aleksandra Nikolic’s report of head injuries from a baton strike.
• Police have denied unlawful conduct, saying they responded to attacks and acted professionally, and the Internal Control Department is reviewing complaints.
• The rally followed a September 5 clash in Novi Sad where riot police used tear gas and stun grenades; officials reported 13 injured officers and blamed masked attackers, while protesters reported dozens of civilian injuries.
• President Aleksandar Vucic has rejected calls for snap elections and expanded a crackdown, as an elite police unit commander said he was forced to retire in what he described as a purge of senior officers.