We are reproducing the statement of the National Convention on the European Union (NCEU) in full.
The European Movement in Serbia, as one of the founding members of the NCEU and a member of its Programme Council, supports the work of the Convention and its contribution to Serbia’s European integration process.
Belgrade, 24 June 2026
More than a year after the events that disturbed a large number of citizens, Serbia still lacks findings that enjoy the trust of a significant portion of the public. Instead of an independent and credible investigation, we have witnessed conflicting statements by various government officials, campaigns directed against organisations that collected citizens’ testimonies, and attempts to shift attention away from the event itself and onto those who have sought and continue to seek answers.
For this reason, we believe that the request for an international investigation by relevant United Nations bodies, submitted by a large number of civil society organisations, is not an expression of distrust towards the Republic of Serbia. Rather, it is a consequence of the serious erosion of trust in the ability of domestic institutions to independently, impartially, and credibly clarify a matter of exceptional public importance. We are deeply convinced that this call by part of civil society is not the cause of the crisis of confidence in institutions, but its consequence.
The President of the Republic has repeatedly stated publicly that Serbia has nothing to hide and that any international institution is free to come and examine the allegations regarding the use of a sonic weapon. If this is indeed the position of the country’s leadership, then there is no reason to reject the request for a United Nations international investigation. An independent investigation would provide an opportunity to dispel all doubts and finally establish confidence in the facts.
It is particularly important to recall that the United Nations is an organisation of which the Republic of Serbia is a member and whose human rights protection mechanisms Serbia recognises and uses within the framework of its international obligations. Turning to the United Nations is not an act directed against the state of Serbia, but rather the use of legitimate international mechanisms that exist precisely for situations where there is serious doubt or profound social mistrust regarding the ability of domestic institutions to resolve disputed issues.
This case is of particular importance for Serbia’s European integration process. It concerns the ability of institutions to ensure accountability, protect the fundamental rights of citizens, and conduct investigations that enjoy public trust. When such trust is lacking, international mechanisms become a legitimate and necessary means of establishing the facts.
At the same time, we are particularly concerned by attempts to discredit organisations and individuals, including members of the National Convention, who documented citizens’ testimonies, made use of available international human rights protection mechanisms, and provided legal and medical assistance to citizens.
Such an approach further deepens the crisis of confidence in institutions, narrows the space for civil society action, and sends the message that the problem is not the circumstances requiring investigation, but those insisting on such an investigation. This is incompatible with the standards of the rule of law, human rights protection, and democratic accountability on which both the European Union and the United Nations are founded.
For this reason, we call on the relevant institutions of the European Union, while the National Assembly is dealing with the consequences of the so-called “Mrdić Laws”, to closely monitor attempts to instrumentalise the prosecution service for the purpose of fabricating indictments against critics of the authorities, and to stand in defence of all democratic actors in our society who advocate institutional accountability, the rule of law, and the protection of human rights.
