The Serbian Ministry of Interior arrested nine police officers and a former officer, accused of torturing protesters detained in Belgrade

Serbia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs announced on Wednesday the arrest of nine serving police officers and a former officer, accused of using excessive violence against people detained during anti-corruption protests in Belgrade in August 2025.

According to the authorities, the suspects allegedly tortured and intimidated several people in the garage of the government complex in the center of the capital between August 14 and 15, 2025. The ministry claims that they used force and threats to cause serious suffering, obtain information, and illegally punish the detainees.

The authorities initially made public only the initials of those arrested. During the protests, Serbian police used tear gas and vehicles for crowd control. Dozens of students and activists then accused law enforcement of using excessive force.

The demonstrations erupted after the tragedy at the railway station in Novi Sad and continued throughout 2025. The protests led, in October, to the Serbian Progressive Party being removed from power. The snap parliamentary elections were won by the Students’ List. The arrests represent a major development in the investigation into the abuses reported during the demonstrations.