European Court of Human Rights Orders Serbia to Refrain from Using Sonic Devices for Crowd Control

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has issued an interim measure ordering the Republic of Serbia to refrain, until further notice, from using sonic devices for the purpose of controlling assembled citizens. This decision follows a request submitted on behalf of 47 citizens by civil society organizations – the Belgrade Centre for Human Rights, Crta, the Lawyers’ Committee for Human Rights – YUCOM, A 11 Initiative, Civic Initiatives, and FemPlatz.

The request was submitted in connection with the events of March 15, and the organizations believe that the Court, by issuing this interim measure, acknowledged the serious concerns raised by citizens. The measure serves as an important warning to the Serbian state and as further evidence countering the government’s claim that “nothing significant happened” on March 15.

After reviewing the evidence submitted with the request, the parties’ statements, and taking into account the fact that the use of acoustic devices for crowd control is unlawful under current Serbian legislation – especially in light of the potentially serious health consequences for a large number of people – the Court decided, based on Rule 39 of its Rules of Procedure, to order the Government of Serbia to prevent any such use of these devices until further notice.

The organizations decided to invoke the mechanism of interim measures – a legal tool the Court uses only rarely – that would oblige the Court to instantly react, precisely because of the urgency and gravity of the situation. It is important to note that an interim measure is not the same as a judgment on the merits of an application, a process that can take several years to conclude.

The European Court has invited all 47 individuals on whose behalf the request was submitted to file official applications against the Republic of Serbia no later than May 28, 2025. If the Court finds that their rights were violated, such proceedings could result in a judgment establishing the facts and confirming the state’s responsibility.