The opposition movement has accused security forces of deploying an LRAD crowd control device during a protest in Belgrade
The Serbian government is preparing for a visit from a group of Russian experts to probe allegations regarding the deployment of a “sonic weapon” during recent mass protests, Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vulin has announced.
The opposition Freedom and Justice Party (SSP) has accused security forces of utilizing a Long Range Acoustic Device (LRAD), a crowd-control technology originally designed by the US Navy, which poses a significant risk of hearing damage. The incident occurred on March 15 during mass protests in the capital, Belgrade, which the government has claimed are foreign-instigated efforts to undermine its authority through popular unrest.
In an interview with RTS on Wednesday, Vulin rejected the claims that LRAD had been deployed and announced that specialists from Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) will arrive in Serbia to conduct an inquiry.
“Their task is to clarify what transpired. We have nothing to conceal,” Vulin stated, emphasizing Belgrade’s commitment to a thorough investigation in hopes of moving beyond the controversy.
President Aleksandar Vucic’s government has alleged that the US “deep state” and European intelligence agencies are inciting the wave of protests in retaliation for Serbia’s refusal to endorse anti-Russian policies. The EU has insisted that Belgrade align its foreign policy with Brussels, before a Serbian bid to join the bloc could proceed.
The ongoing protests stem from a tragic event in Novi Sad last November, where 16 lives were lost due to the collapse of a concrete canopy at a railway station, leading to multiple resignations among senior officials.
The demonstration on March 15 represented the peak of the pressure campaign. Claims of the “sonic weapon” deployment were propagated by the Belgrade Centre for Security Policy (BCSP), a USAID-funded NGO supported by George Soros’ Open Society Foundations.
