Serbian opposition figure Zdravko Ponoš has come under police scrutiny following his public statements about the alleged use of a sonic weapon during a significant anti-government protest in Belgrade on March 15, 2025. Authorities questioned Ponoš as part of an investigation to ascertain whether his social media post, which claimed that a “sound cannon” was employed against demonstrators, could potentially be classified as inciting panic and disorder.
In his initial online post, Ponoš accused the government of deploying a sonic device against participants of a peaceful protest held to honor victims of the Novi Sad railway station canopy collapse. This rally, considered one of the largest in Serbia’s history, saw hundreds of thousands gather, demanding accountability for the tragic incident. During the protest, chaos ensued when the crowd unexpectedly broke into a brief stampede, with many attendees later reporting an unusual loud noise that preceded the panic.
The Serbian prosecution is actively investigating the incident, focusing on whether the purported sound cannon event was genuine or manipulated. As part of this inquiry, authorities are interviewing protest organizers, attendees, and others who have publicly commented on the occurrence. Ponoš has since claimed that details from his police interview were leaked to a media outlet supportive of the government shortly after the questioning concluded.
Amidst these developments, a coalition of Serbian civil society groups has appealed to the United Nations, urging the establishment of an independent fact-finding mission to verify the alleged use of a sonic device during the protest. They argue that the domestic investigation has been compromised by political influences, casting doubt on its impartiality.