Serbia, Gozi: "Democratic trust cannot be restored by rewriting reality"
Brussels, 14 September 2026 — The European Democratic Party expresses serious concern following the conclusions announced by the Higher Public Prosecutor’s Office in Belgrade concerning the incident during the mass protest of 15 March 2025.
The Prosecutor’s Office has concluded that no acoustic weapon was used against protesters, attributing what occurred to a spontaneous “chain reaction of panic” lasting 32 seconds. It also claims that audio and video evidence was manipulated and is now considering proceedings against those who reported the incident.
Reacting to the announcement, Sandro Gozi, Secretary-General of the European Democratic Party, said:
“Serious questions remain. There are videos, 113 medical reports and thousands of testimonies. An investigation of this gravity must address this evidence transparently and convincingly, rather than create the impression that those seeking answers may themselves face prosecution.
Attempts to dismiss or reinterpret what thousands of citizens witnessed and experienced can only deepen mistrust in Serbia’s institutions. If this is the atmosphere in which the country is entering an election campaign, it is deeply concerning.
Serbia’s institutions must serve its citizens and establish the facts independently, not accommodate the interests of those in power. Democratic trust cannot be restored by rewriting reality. Ultimately, no institution can erase the experience of thousands of citizens — and every government remains accountable to their democratic judgement.”
The European Democratic Party calls for a genuinely independent and transparent examination of all available evidence and for the rights of witnesses, journalists and citizens seeking answers to be fully protected.
