Serbia has arrested police officers for using force against protesters

Večernji listIndependentCenterNov 4

Serbian authorities have detained nine active police officers and one former officer over allegations of excessive force used against protesters during anti-corruption demonstrations in Belgrade last year. The Ministry of Interior stated that members of an elite unit tortured and intimidated individuals held in a garage within the government complex in August 2025, aiming to extract information and punish them illegally. These arrests occur amid ongoing protests across Serbia, which began after 16 people died in a structural collapse at a renovated railway station in November 2024. The sustained public outcry led to the ouster of the populist Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), loyal to former President Aleksandar Vucic, in parliamentary elections held in October, where the leaderless Student List emerged victorious. While students, activists, and human rights groups accuse Vucic and his party of political violence and corruption, Vucic and his allies reject these claims.

Bias read (Center): The article relies primarily on official ministry statements while including specific accusations from opposition groups and noting the rejection of those charges by the ousted leadership, creating a balanced presentation of conflicting narratives.

Telegram.hrIndependentCenterNov 4

Serbian authorities have detained nine active police officers and one former officer over allegations of excessive force used against individuals during anti-corruption protests in Belgrade. The Ministry of Interior stated that members of an elite unit tortured and intimidated detainees in a garage within the government complex in August 2025 to extract information. Among those arrested is Igor Zmiric, the commander of the Special Anti-Terrorist Unit. These arrests follow widespread student-led protests in 2025 and 2026 that led to the ousting of the Serbian Progressive Party and the election victory of the Student List movement. Critics accused the previous administration under Aleksandar Vucic of political violence and corruption, charges which Vucic and his allies denied.

Bias read (Center): The report relies heavily on official ministry statements while neutrally noting the political context of the regime change and contrasting it with accusations made by protesters and human rights groups.

HRT (Hrvatska radiotelevizija)State / PublicCenterNov 4

Serbian authorities have detained nine active police officers and one former officer for allegedly using excessive force against individuals during anti-corruption protests in Belgrade last year. The Ministry of Interior stated that members of an elite unit tortured and intimidated several people held in a garage within the government complex in August 2025, aiming to extract information and punish them illegally. These arrests mark the first significant legal actions related to violence against protesters who took to the streets over the past two years following a fatal collapse at a railway station in Novi Sad in November 2024. During the demonstrations, which continued into 2026, police used tear gas, riot vehicles, and shock bombs, leading to accusations of excessive force by students, activists, and human rights organizations. Critics accused former President Aleksandar Vucic and his Serbian Progressive Party of political violence and corruption, claims the former administration denied. The sustained protests ultimately led to the ousting of the ruling party in extraordinary parliamentary elections held on October 25, where the Student List emerged victorious.

Bias read (Center): The report relies primarily on official ministry statements while neutrally listing specific allegations from opposition groups and noting the election outcome without editorializing.

N1 HrvatskaIndependentCenterNov 4

Serbian authorities arrested nine individuals, including eight active police officers and one former officer, on suspicion of torturing and intimidating protesters in a garage within the Belgrade government complex in August 2025. The Ministry of Interior stated that members of an elite unit used force and threats to extract information and punish detainees illegally. Among those detained is Igor Zmiric, the commander of the Special Anti-Terrorist Unit. These arrests follow widespread anti-corruption protests across Serbia in 2025 and 2026, which were triggered by the death of 16 people in a structural collapse at a renovated railway station in November 2024. The sustained demonstrations led to the ousting of the Serbian Progressive Party in parliamentary elections held in October, where the Student List movement emerged victorious. Critics, including students and human rights groups, have accused former President Aleksandar Vucic and his party of political violence and corruption, allegations that Vucic and his allies deny.

Bias read (Center): The report neutrally presents the Ministry’s official statement alongside independent accusations from activists and opposition figures regarding past police conduct, maintaining a balanced tone without editorializing.