OSCE Office Calls on Serbia: Do Not Use Excessive Police Force Against Protesters

The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, ODIHR, said on August 19, 2025, that Serbia has a duty to enable peaceful gatherings without unreasonable or excessive use of police force.
It was said that Serbia is also obliged to “prevent violence, in line with its human rights obligations”.

“Promoting dialogue and accountability is the best way to reduce current tensions,” the reaction reads.
A wave of protests, which began in Serbia in November 2024, has entered a new phase now.

There have been daily clashes between demonstrators and police since August 12, when violence erupted in the northern towns of Vërbas and Baçka Pallanka.

These incidents sparked protests in dozens of cities in the country, including the capital Belgrade, as allegations of police brutality spread across the country.

In recent days, several non-governmental organizations have filed criminal complaints against police officers for police violence against protesters.

Serbia’s Interior Minister, Ivica Dacic, said on Tuesday that the police were not hiding anything about their actions in the protests and that, if there was any overstepping of authority, everyone who did so would be held accountable.