Student protests persist in Serbia: new Prime Minister appointed amid sound weapon controversy

Following the tragic incident at the Novi Sad railway station, student-led protests in Serbia have turned into the most serious public outcry against the government — a new prime minister has been appointed, while allegations of sound weapon use have been officially denied.

The ongoing student-led protests in Serbia have become the most significant public pressure on President Aleksandar Vučić’s administration in recent years.

On Wednesday, thousands of students and their supporters gathered in the city of Kraljevo for the latest demonstration. Protesters turned on the flashlights of their mobile phones to observe a minute of silence for the victims of the Novi Sad train station collapse, before continuing the march with music and flame effects.

The protests were sparked by the tragic incident last November, when the roof of the Novi Sad railway station collapsed, killing 16 people. The event reignited public outrage over widespread corruption and government negligence.

Political Newcomer Appointed as Prime Minister

Amid the unrest, the Serbian Parliament approved Djuro Macut, a medical professor with no political background, as the country’s new prime minister. His predecessor, Miloš Vučević, resigned under pressure from the protests.

The new cabinet will consist of 31 ministers, 22 of whom served in the previous administration. While opposition parties demanded a transitional government until the 2027 elections, the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) rejected the proposal.

Sonic Weapon Scandal and Official Denial

During the March protests in Belgrade, some demonstrators claimed the police used sonic weapons. The European Union and human rights groups called for an investigation, prompting Serbian authorities to invite Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) to examine the matter.

At a press conference on Wednesday, President Vučić shared the findings of the FSB’s investigation, which concluded that Serbian police did not use sonic weapons during the protests.

“This was all premeditated. It’s part of an ongoing information and psychological warfare against Serbia,” Vučić said.

However, Interior Minister Ivica Dačić admitted that in 2021, Serbia had acquired Long-Range Acoustic Devices (LRADs) from the United States, claiming they were intended solely for public announcements.

Expert groups stated that evidence around the use of sonic devices remains inconclusive, but did not rule out the possible use of LRADs or experimental vortex cannons.

What’s Next for the Protests?

The daily student-led demonstrations show no signs of slowing. Analysts consider the movement the most significant civic uprising during Vučić’s political career, which began in 2013. Both domestic and international observers continue to monitor the developments closely.

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