Serbian Police Officers Arrested for Alleged Torture and Excessive Force Against Students

Ten individuals, including nine active Serbian police officers and one former officer, have been arrested on charges of using excessive force against students during protests last year. These demonstrations occurred in the lead-up to the October electoral defeat of former President Aleksandar Vucic.

The Serbian Ministry of Interior announced the arrests on Wednesday, stating that the suspects are accused of abusing and torturing several individuals in the garage of a government compound in Belgrade in August 2025. According to a ministry statement, the officers were on duty when they allegedly “used force and threats to inflict severe pain and suffering on several injured people, in order to obtain information, intimidate and unlawfully punish them.”

The anticorruption protests in Serbia were sparked by the tragic collapse of a railway station canopy in Novi Sad in November 2024, which resulted in 16 fatalities. This incident was widely perceived as a symbol of alleged pervasive corruption during Vucic's 12-year presidency. Vucic conceded defeat in the recent parliamentary elections.

While the ministry has only released the initials of the arrested individuals, it confirmed they belonged to an elite unit. State broadcaster Radio Television of Serbia reported that Igor Zmiric, the commander of the Special Antiterrorism Unit, was among those detained.

Following last month's elections, the student-led protest movement has been advocating for reforms within state institutions, including the police and intelligence services. Protesters have also demanded the resignation of top officials, accusing them of collaborating with Vucic during his tenure.

There is increased optimism that Belgrade may join the European Union, as the bloc has offered to advance accession talks if Serbia's new government demonstrates a commitment to strengthening democracy. A 2025 report by Amnesty International had previously highlighted concerns, noting that protesters, journalists, and civil society organizations “continued to face intimidation, harassment and unlawful surveillance as authorities sought to rein in widespread discontent.” The human rights group also documented instances of protesters being subjected to excessive force in “multiple cases across the country.”