The fact that the gendarme, although no one threatened him, slapped a citizen in Novi Sad is a clear message from the state - repression will remain as a response to any form of civil activism or civil disobedience, according to the interlocutors of "Vremena".
All the activities of the NUNS in the issue of providing protective equipment to journalists are related to the actions of the police in the previous months and to what the state authorities announce and predict themselves, NUNS lawyer and researcher Rade Đurić tells "Vreme"
Did the police beat and intimidate her, or not? Little is clear in the case of the student of the Faculty of Agriculture, and as new information comes to light, the whole story only gets more complicated. The mystery that has been going on for seven days comes down to the question of who to believe: the police or the students
After a series of denials by the Ministry of the Interior and representatives of the authorities that the police did not even touch the student of the Faculty of Agriculture, her colleagues published the chronology of her arrest, beating and harassment
When he talks about the misuse of police powers, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić does not mention the savage beating of protesters, the threat of rape by Marko Krichak, nor the dozens of witness statements about the abuse of police powers, but the case of former Red Star footballer Vujadin Savić.
Tuesday, October 14, was marked by the news about the police torture of a student of the Faculty of Agriculture. The Ministry of Interior reacted through two stupid but terrifying statements, which only strengthened the public's belief that the girl was telling the truth
The MUP denied the student's allegations of torture, stressing that "on the specified day, she was not in the premises of the Public Administration for the City of Belgrade and that the police officers of the Public Administration for the City of Belgrade did not act on her."
The goal of the website "Stop brutality" is to collect cases of physical and legal violence against citizens of Serbia in a single database - "For the day after".
The Prosecutor's Office dismissed the criminal complaint filed by the police against student Luka Mihajlović. He was brutally beaten by the police on June 28, and while he was in the hospital he was handcuffed to the bed for a while
The protest in Novi Sad against police brutality on September 5 was marked by police brutality, and almost 600 police officers were involved in the rally.
Student Nikolina Sinđelić told all police officers who exceed their powers that Serbia "is not theirs, but belongs to the people and that they have to come to terms with that."
Rape threats, slapping, kicking, spitting, insults, breaking phones - this is how nine people whose testimonies BIRN obtained described what they experienced, heard or saw in the garage of the Government of the Republic of Serbia building, where they were brought after the protest on August 14.
Special videographers film the police cordons in order to conduct an expert analysis of their actions afterwards. But also to find out later who is zealous and who is lazy
No police officer has been disciplined. Not a single beater of the regime was detained. And their victims are more and more, writes "Vreme" in the new issue
"Brutal police interventions, the use of tear gas and other chemical agents, physical violence, arrests and long-term detentions without grounds, as well as a campaign of intimidation and media manipulation, have serious consequences not only for social cohesion, but also for public health," states the Association of Health Workers of Serbia.
It was brutal in Novi Sad on Friday evening: the police attacked, beat, fired tear gas and detained. A journalist from "Vremena" was almost among those detained, despite the fact that she is a journalist
The editorial staff of "Vremena" strongly condemns the humiliation and mistreatment of colleague Katarina Stevanović at the protest in Novi Sad and demands the responsibility of all police officers who participated in it.
At the protest in Novi Sad on September 5, under the impact of police batons and in the smoke of tear gas, everything became crystal clear: after arriving from China, Aleksandar Vučić followed the path of Eastern despots. A few more conclusions can be drawn the day after
Aleksandar Vučić gives the impression of a deeply frustrated man who enjoys the suffering of others. His kez is also his attitude towards Novi Sad, its inhabitants and, in particular, the sixteen people who died in the fall of the canopy
"We will also work to ensure that all the people who threatened are prosecuted, and we will not leave out the regime media either," said student Nikolina Sinđelić.
The police managed to stop the criminal who was drugged and drove migrants without a driver's license on the roads of Serbia, endangering a huge number of other people, after about three hundred kilometers. They celebrated that success by kicking the criminal, radiating frustration
"Distrust in institutions" sounds like a phrase, but in fact it is a scourge. What happens in our psyche when we can no longer believe that the police protect us and the law, that doctors treat us according to conscience or that the state functions
The girls and boys – the victims of Bloody Sunday – have finally caught the attention of Europe. And in the country, a good part of the progressive electorate is no longer wondering whether there will be pensions and salaries if Vučić leaves power, but whether he will receive them if he stays.
Rape threats and beatings followed when, after another protest in a row, the demonstrators went home. According to the testimonies of victims of torture, students and citizens were kidnapped from central Belgrade streets, taken to the building of the Government of Serbia - the seat of the executive power - where they were tortured or forced to listen to and watch others being beaten.
"There was no tying or mistreatment, all actions were carried out in accordance with the law, solely for the purpose of preserving order and peace," said Minister of the Interior Ivica Dačić about the arrest of student Nikolina Sinđelić
"Fixing" the prosecutor's office, replacing disobedient judges, bringing in the army to suppress protests...? "Vremen" interlocutors consider what could come to Aleksandar Vučić's mind in his futile attempts to suppress civil protests and turn Serbia into Belarus
Despite police brutality reaching a whole new level and mass arrests, the people who rebelled against the Vučić brothers' rule did not back down. Instilling fear no longer drinks water
Another woman reacted by pulling the victim of police brutality away from the gendarme, but he then pushed her away as well.
Reacting to that event Ministry of Interior practically legalized the violence of the gendarmes by claiming that members of the MUP in front of Banovina "acted exclusively in accordance with the law and authority, with the sole aim of preserving public order, peace and security of all citizens".
It was also stated that "the bus is parked improperly, without license plates and that fuel is leaking from the tank", and that the police "on the order of the competent prosecution took measures to remove it".
The Ministry of Internal Affairs also presented that "some persons obstructed officials in the performance of their duties, threw objects at them, insulted and damaged the vehicle of the removal service."
"Thanks to the professional actions of the police, the bus was safely removed, and for now two people have been brought in for disturbing public order and peace. Members of the MUP are working to identify the persons who damaged the tow vehicle and attacked the police officers," the MUP announced.
Legal advisor of the Belgrade Center for human rights Sanja Radivojević tells "Vreme" that she interprets the lull in the police brutality that lasted for several months by the behavior of the citizens at the protests.
He points out that the citizens and the police were just observing each other while the citizens were at a distance from the police cordon and police officers, so there was no reason for any police officer to apply coercive measures.
However, an act happened on Monday evening in Novi Sad activism, that is, a direct confrontation, because citizens approached the bus trying to prevent it from being towed away.
"In the event that citizens try to take matters into their own hands, but not in the sense of overthrowing the constitutional order, but in order to protect and preserve of the rule of law, the police is ready, as it showed this summer, to respond with the highest degree repression. I see it as a constantly growing gradation, repression has been presented several times and they do not give up on that idea. The message is clear: the map of repression will remain as a continuum and response States to any kind of civil activism or civil disobedience," says Radivojević.
He warns that citizens can expect repression, and not only by the police, every time they raise their voice a little.
"We have also seen how the prosecution acts by example Vladimir Štimac. His detention was terminated, and the moment he leaves the courthouse, he is already greeted outside by police officers who, according to the order, meet him the prosecutor arrested for a new crime. Repression is dominant, it appears in all forms and is carried out by all institutions," Radivojević points out.
Speaking about the case of confiscation of Jaćimović's buses, Radivojević indicates that even if a representative of the authorities appears who is ready to listen to complaints or objections, the state shows that it has other henchmen who will implement the authorities' position.
"The government can always find a way and send you a message that they are stronger. In the current constellation, when the government has all the mechanisms within the institutions, such things will happen," says Radivojević.
Professor Faculty of Law in Belgrade Vanja Bajović tells "Vreme" that Milomir Jaćimović is being subjected to economic blackmail and repression. He assesses that it is the worst form of repression, because it tells the citizens "to be silent, suffer and go astray, because otherwise the state will take away everything they have."
"Jaćimović's demands are not political, because he is only asking for the state to return what is his. They gave him back one bus, as if on a spoon. It is not necessary to mention in particular how the law is selectively enforced, because we know what kind of buses drive citizens, how many accidents happen on the roads due to defective vehicles, so no one touches them. At the same time, they piled up all possible offenses against Jaćimović with the sole aim of intimidating him and taking away what he has," says Bajović.
In addition, if it is estimated that Jaćimović parked his bus illegally, Bajović indicates that the Traffic Police is responsible for such cases, and not Gendarmerie.
"There is nothing new to say about the behavior of the police. It is clear that this behavior is beyond all rules, regulations and laws. I am afraid that such a situation can lead to a civil war, because citizens on the street are literally protecting their rights, and the police are protecting the existing order. It is obvious that the law does not apply here, that it is applied selectively, and that the regulations protect some and punish others. It is all clear to us. The police are part of that system, it is normal that they will defend the system that feeds them, which must be changed from foundations", says Bajović.
Commenting on the statement German the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Johan Wadeful, who during his visit to Serbia on Monday emphasized that "Fr freedom of speech and gatherings, there is no negotiation", that this also applies to countries that are candidates for membership in to the European Union and that "peaceful gatherings must be made possible", Bajović says that she is not sure how essential these messages are, and how much they are just declaratory.
"The specific message is what she did." Sweden when it suspended part of the aid to Serbia. I don't see Germany sending any other message than a declaratory one, because it is again negotiating with the authorities. "The international factor looks at its interests and sees from whom they will profit more - from this government or from those who will replace it," concludes Bajović.
On the other hand, Sanja Radivojević, speaking about Johan Vadeful's messages, says that it is irrelevant whether they came from Germany or any other country.
"These are norms and practices that Serbia must respect, because they are prescribed by international agreements that we have ratified and by the Constitution Serbia. It is absolutely unnecessary for any member of the European Union to remind us of that of the Council of Europe. Vadeful only reminded the government in Serbia that it should adhere to its obligations and respect human rights. "That the representatives of the authorities do not look back on it is the reality we live and fight against, among other things, in the way that the citizens of Novi showed now on Monday evening," concludes Radivojević.
', title: 'Brutality after the lull: Police will not stop beating protesters', pubdate: '2025-11-18 13:40:27', authors: authors, sections: "Society", tags: "State repression, Milomir Jaćimović, Novi Sad, Police, Police brutality", access_level: access_level, article_type: "news", reader_type: reader_type }; (function (d, s) { var sf = d.createElement(s); sf.type = 'text/javascript'; sf.async = true; sf.src = (('https:' == d.location.protocol) ? 'https://d7d3cf2e81d293050033-3dfc0615b0fd7b49143049256703bfce.ssl.cf1.rackcdn.com' : 'http://t.contentinsights.com') + '/stf.js'; var t = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; t.parentNode.insertBefore(sf, t); })(document, 'script'); dataLayer.push({ 'event': 'Pageview', 'pagePath': url, 'pageTitle': 'Brutality after lull: Police won't stop beating protesters', 'pageContent': 'Police on Monday evening at Novi Sad returned to the violent mode of action against citizens that was characteristic of the actions of members of the Ministry of Internal Affairs during the protests last summer.
Targeted by police on Monday there were citizens who tried to prevent the bus from leaving Milomir Jaćimović in front of the Banovina building in Novi Sad.
The violence was also documented - with a video that shows that one policeman, s with a mask in the face, although he was not attacked, he brutally punches a woman who was standing in the first row.
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Another woman reacted by pulling the victim of police brutality away from the gendarme, but he then pushed her away as well.
Reacting to that event Ministry of Interior practically legalized the violence of the gendarmes by claiming that members of the MUP in front of Banovina "acted exclusively in accordance with the law and authority, with the sole aim of preserving public order, peace and security of all citizens".
It was also stated that "the bus is parked improperly, without license plates and that fuel is leaking from the tank", and that the police "on the order of the competent prosecution took measures to remove it".
The Ministry of Internal Affairs also presented that "some persons obstructed officials in the performance of their duties, threw objects at them, insulted and damaged the vehicle of the removal service."
"Thanks to the professional actions of the police, the bus was safely removed, and for now two people have been brought in for disturbing public order and peace. Members of the MUP are working to identify the persons who damaged the tow vehicle and attacked the police officers," the MUP announced.
Legal advisor of the Belgrade Center for human rights Sanja Radivojević tells "Vreme" that she interprets the lull in the police brutality that lasted for several months by the behavior of the citizens at the protests.
He points out that the citizens and the police were just observing each other while the citizens were at a distance from the police cordon and police officers, so there was no reason for any police officer to apply coercive measures.
However, an act happened on Monday evening in Novi Sad activism, that is, a direct confrontation, because citizens approached the bus trying to prevent it from being towed away.
"In the event that citizens try to take matters into their own hands, but not in the sense of overthrowing the constitutional order, but in order to protect and preserve of the rule of law, the police is ready, as it showed this summer, to respond with the highest degree repression. I see it as a constantly growing gradation, repression has been presented several times and they do not give up on that idea. The message is clear: the map of repression will remain as a continuum and response States to any kind of civil activism or civil disobedience," says Radivojević.
He warns that citizens can expect repression, and not only by the police, every time they raise their voice a little.
"We have also seen how the prosecution acts by example Vladimir Štimac. His detention was terminated, and the moment he leaves the courthouse, he is already greeted outside by police officers who, according to the order, meet him the prosecutor arrested for a new crime. Repression is dominant, it appears in all forms and is carried out by all institutions," Radivojević points out.
Speaking about the case of confiscation of Jaćimović's buses, Radivojević indicates that even if a representative of the authorities appears who is ready to listen to complaints or objections, the state shows that it has other henchmen who will implement the authorities' position.
"The government can always find a way and send you a message that they are stronger. In the current constellation, when the government has all the mechanisms within the institutions, such things will happen," says Radivojević.
Professor Faculty of Law in Belgrade Vanja Bajović tells "Vreme" that Milomir Jaćimović is being subjected to economic blackmail and repression. He assesses that it is the worst form of repression, because it tells the citizens "to be silent, suffer and go astray, because otherwise the state will take away everything they have."
"Jaćimović's demands are not political, because he is only asking for the state to return what is his. They gave him back one bus, as if on a spoon. It is not necessary to mention in particular how the law is selectively enforced, because we know what kind of buses drive citizens, how many accidents happen on the roads due to defective vehicles, so no one touches them. At the same time, they piled up all possible offenses against Jaćimović with the sole aim of intimidating him and taking away what he has," says Bajović.
In addition, if it is estimated that Jaćimović parked his bus illegally, Bajović indicates that the Traffic Police is responsible for such cases, and not Gendarmerie.
"There is nothing new to say about the behavior of the police. It is clear that this behavior is beyond all rules, regulations and laws. I am afraid that such a situation can lead to a civil war, because citizens on the street are literally protecting their rights, and the police are protecting the existing order. It is obvious that the law does not apply here, that it is applied selectively, and that the regulations protect some and punish others. It is all clear to us. The police are part of that system, it is normal that they will defend the system that feeds them, which must be changed from foundations", says Bajović.
Commenting on the statement German the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Johan Wadeful, who during his visit to Serbia on Monday emphasized that "Fr freedom of speech and gatherings, there is no negotiation", that this also applies to countries that are candidates for membership in to the European Union and that "peaceful gatherings must be made possible", Bajović says that she is not sure how essential these messages are, and how much they are just declaratory.
"The specific message is what she did." Sweden when it suspended part of the aid to Serbia. I don't see Germany sending any other message than a declaratory one, because it is again negotiating with the authorities. "The international factor looks at its interests and sees from whom they will profit more - from this government or from those who will replace it," concludes Bajović.
On the other hand, Sanja Radivojević, speaking about Johan Vadeful's messages, says that it is irrelevant whether they came from Germany or any other country.
"These are norms and practices that Serbia must respect, because they are prescribed by international agreements that we have ratified and by the Constitution Serbia. It is absolutely unnecessary for any member of the European Union to remind us of that of the Council of Europe. Vadeful only reminded the government in Serbia that it should adhere to its obligations and respect human rights. "That the representatives of the authorities do not look back on it is the reality we live and fight against, among other things, in the way that the citizens of Novi showed now on Monday evening," concludes Radivojević.
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