Belgrade — Serbian authorities have arrested nine police officers, including a serving commander of the country's special anti-terrorist unit, on suspicion of using excessive force and torture against student protesters during anti-government demonstrations last year. The Interior Ministry announced the detentions on Wednesday, saying the suspects are accused of abusing their authority while on duty in August 2025.
According to the ministry's statement, the nine individuals — eight serving officers and one former officer — are suspected of having "used force and threats to inflict severe pain and suffering on several injured people" inside a garage at a government building in the capital. The statement added that the alleged actions were intended "to obtain information, intimidate and unlawfully punish them."
Although the arrested were identified only by their initials and year of birth, Serbia's state broadcaster RTS reported that Igor Zmiric, commander of the Special Anti-Terrorist Unit (SAJ), was among those detained. Student activist Nikolina Sindjelic, who was previously held during the August protests, had publicly accused Zmiric of kicking her while she lay on the garage floor.
Political backdrop: a student movement's rise
The arrests come at a politically charged moment. At the end of last month, a student-led coalition known as the Student List won Serbia's parliamentary elections, ending the long dominance of Aleksandar Vučić, who had been in power for over a decade. The movement, which emerged from months of street protests, quickly transformed into the country's most significant political force, capitalising on widespread public anger over corruption and government accountability.
The protests began in late 2024, following a deadly disaster at a recently renovated railway station in Novi Sad. The collapse of the station's concrete canopy killed 15 people and injured several others, triggering nationwide demonstrations and intense scrutiny of the government's handling of infrastructure projects and its broader record on transparency.
While the student movement's electoral victory marked a turning point, the new authorities have yet to fully address the grievances that fuelled the protests. The arrest of police officers is seen as an early test of the new government's commitment to judicial reform and ending impunity for security forces.
The case also resonates beyond Serbia's borders. The European Union has repeatedly urged Belgrade to strengthen the rule of law and tackle corruption as part of its accession process. The bloc's recent enlargement strategy has tied progress to concrete reforms, making the handling of this case a potential bellwether for Serbia's EU path.
Human rights groups have welcomed the arrests but caution that the investigation must be thorough and independent. "This is a positive step, but the real test will be whether the judicial system can deliver justice without political interference," said a spokesperson for the Belgrade-based Humanitarian Law Center.
The nine suspects are expected to appear before a pre-trial judge in the coming days. The Interior Ministry has not disclosed further details, citing the ongoing investigation.
For many Serbians, the arrests symbolise a break with the past, but the country remains deeply polarised. Supporters of the former government view the detentions as politically motivated, while activists see them as long-overdue accountability. The coming months will reveal whether the new leadership can navigate these tensions and deliver on its promises of reform.
