High school student’s arm broken, then accused of violent behaviour: Lawyers on roadblock arrests

After the Vidovdan protest, Serbia was engulfed in a wave of roadblocks, the main demand of which was the calling of early parliamentary elections. The authorities responded by arresting protesters, including high school students, teachers, activists and journalists. Although many were detained for offences such as disturbing the peace, some faced serious criminal charges, including calling for a violent change in the constitutional order.

Between 29 June and 7 July 2025, dozens of citizens were detained in Serbia for participating in student protests and roadblocks. Most were charged with misdemeanours for disturbing public order or disobeying police orders.

Several were ordered into custody – three citizens from Čačak for 48 hours and two protesters from Belgrade entered into a plea agreement with the prosecutor’s office and pleaded guilty.

Students, high school students, activists, as well as professors and journalists have been detained. Several lawyers have pointed to illegalities during the detentions – from the failure to strip police officers of their identities to the denial of the right to a lawyer. In most cases, misdemeanour proceedings have been initiated, but criminal proceedings are rare and relate to acts such as violent behaviour and calls for violent change of the constitutional order. Court proceedings are still ongoing.

Lawyer Ljiljana Borović Marjanović says her firm is currently representing several citizens who were arrested during and after the protests at the end of June. Among them, she says, are four students accused of preparing an act against the constitutional order in connection with the offence of calling for a violent change in the constitutional order, as well as several students accused of violent behaviour at a public rally on 28 June.

“We are also representing an activist on charges that he endangered the security of the President of the Republic by causing panic and disorder. In Novi Sad, we represent a fourth-year high school student who broke his arm during arrest due to excessive use of force and was detained by police for several hours without medical assistance, after which he was charged with violent conduct,” Borović Marjanović said.

She says her firm also represents two university professors, as well as a journalist who was beaten while covering the elections, allegedly by SNS member Lj. K., who was previously charged with assaulting an N1 journalist.

“We are also defending several citizens who are accused of traffic offences that do not exist under the law – for example, repeatedly crossing a pedestrian crossing during the day,” she adds. Borović Marjanović points out that all the proceedings are full of irregularities – the detainees did not know why they were arrested, the police officers did not identify themselves, and the lawyer was contacted only after the legal deadline had passed. She claims that her clients received detention orders with incorrect times and incomplete documentation, and that they refused to sign them, stating the reasons.

It highlights in particular the case of an activist who, despite a judge’s refusal to order his detention, was later ordered to do so on appeal by a panel chaired by the President of the Belgrade High Court.

“The appeal later lifted both the detention and the house arrest, as well as the ban on internet and telephone use. A similar situation is now happening with the students arrested on 29 June – the prosecutor appealed on 3 July, and the case is back before the same chamber,” the lawyer says.

She adds that she still believes it is a coincidence, but points out that judges must be independent and impartial.

“This is the only way to speak of a country where the law and the Constitution are respected,” concludes Borović Marjanović.

Milena Vasić of YUKOM notes that during and after the protests, citizens reported numerous violations of their rights, especially by the police. She highlights the excessive use of force, incorrect identification and verbal conflicts with citizens.

“Citizens report all kinds of human rights violations – excessive use of force, inappropriate identification, insults and humiliation by the police,” says Vasićeva.

Court proceedings have not yet started, but she says she has seen a large number of offence reports filed.

“We do not yet have the exact number of requests to initiate misdemeanour proceedings, but there are significantly more than criminal ones. Some judges have refused to impose a penalty and sent offence cases to regular proceedings, which is a positive signal,” she says.

He adds that there have been no more detentions since 28 June, but this data needs to be verified. Most of those arrested have been released to defend themselves from custody.

“The detentions were mainly related to the protest for Vidovdan. After that, we had no more reports of detention,” he says.

He advises citizens not to go to protests alone and to request contact with a lawyer and inform a person close to them if they are detained.

“It is important that someone is with them, that they record who is arresting them, where they are being taken, that they insist on contact with a lawyer. They also have the right to inform a person close to them.”

He points out that even minimal physical contact with a police officer can be considered an assault on an official, even if the officer has not been clearly identified.

“Flight and resistance are not recommended. Even tugging on the sleeve of a uniform can be interpreted as an assault. Even if you do not show your identity card, the citizen bears the consequences.”

He therefore urges caution and documentation of any suspicious situation.

“Be social, watch where you are taken, film, take photos. This is the only way to protect your rights later,” concludes Vasic./Danas/