“A week has passed since the large-scale protest in Belgrade, but the students’ struggle against Vučić’s government continues. There are concerns that his security forces may have deployed special weapons. If confirmed, this revelation could drastically alter the current scenario,” Velt comments.

The German newspaper presents a detailed analysis of the incidents in Serbia by journalist Tatjana Om, who witnessed the events during the commemoration of the victims from Novi Sad. She narrates:

“Suddenly, the tranquility is disrupted by a sound erupting a hundred meters away on Kralja Milana Street. It sends hundreds into a panic, fleeing toward Slavija Square, weaving through the crowd. People are pushed against building walls and some fall. After several minutes, the situation begins to settle down, largely because many managed to remain calm. There are calls echoing not to panic.”

The article notes that numerous videos captured the moment, with many direct witnesses characterizing the sound as akin to a jet flying dangerously low, inducing pain. There are suggestions that “a sonic weapon was possibly used either to disperse the crowd or incite mass panic,” highlighting that “such weapons are banned in Serbia.”

Furthermore, the German journalist points out that this has ignited a significant public discourse. She concludes, “Currently, the students and their protests are somewhat overshadowed by this debate. Last Saturday marked a peak in their opposition to Vučić’s regime, but their fight is far from over. ‘This is not a sprint; it’s a marathon,’ declared one speaker last week. However, if it turns out that sonic weapons were indeed employed by the security forces, the dynamics could shift more rapidly than many anticipate, transforming this marathon into a half-marathon.”

The Balkan Spring of the European Union

The protests in Serbia and North Macedonia, fueled by corruption, explain the widespread nature of the movement, according to Tagesschau. “Corruption may seem trivial — a few bills here, a favor there — but it has been pervasive and brutal in the former Yugoslavia, even before the tragic events in Novi Sad and Kočani.”

“Politicians in the successor states of Yugoslavia aimed to eradicate political corruption from the communist era yet became enmeshed in corruption themselves. For years, the erosion of trust in the state has proceeded faster than glaciers melting in climate change,” the German publication states.

“Simultaneously, trust in the European Union has dwindled. Feelings of frustration and fear are intensifying not only in Serbia and Macedonia but also in Croatia, where the absence of judicial independence flourishes unchallenged, even within a EU member state. The fact that corruption in Southeast Europe is no longer overlooked — despite the tragic events — finally provides a glimmer of hope for a livable future there,” reports Tagesspiegel, concluding, “Should the EU rigorously confront corruption, it could herald its own Balkan spring.”

Deep Alienation of Citizens from Politicians

“State failure and corruption are rallying citizens in Serbia and Romania, yet the imagery from the protests is strikingly different: in Serbia, exuberant, non-violent youth march, while just a few hundred kilometers east, Romanian citizens are rallying around right-wing extremist parties,” observes the Swiss Neue Zürcher Zeitung.

“Examining closely, both phenomena share similar roots: a profound alienation of citizens from a political class that fails to deliver on its promises, compounded by institutions susceptible to corruption. There is a brewing discontent in the Balkans,” writes Andreas Ernst.

“What can Europe do? Not much,” posits the Swiss journalist. He points out, “First, there are several actions it should avoid. In Romania, it must not support the dubious exclusion of right-wing extremist Calin Đorđescu from the presidential election. This opaque decision has further deteriorated trust in the judiciary and politics, thereby amplifying extremist influence. Neo-fascists should be defeated at the ballot box.”

Regarding Serbia, the author asserts, “The EU must discard the notion that Vučić is a guarantor of regional stability. Although he may have been in the past, he is currently facing severe challenges and could become a liability. Serbia borders two crisis areas, with Bosnia and Herzegovina to the west and Kosovo to the south. Vučić has direct leverage through his allies in Republika Srpska and northern Kosovo. Europe and the U.S. (to the extent they still care) need to stay vigilant here. An open crisis in the vicinity could give Vučić an excuse to halt the civic movement.”

The Swiss publication concludes: “The responsibility for fostering greater democratization in Romania and Serbia lies with the citizens of those nations. Recent years have demonstrated that the EU’s influence in the region is on the decline. This has amplified political risks, though simultaneously heightened personal accountability and civic engagement. The protests in the Balkans ultimately illustrate that Romanians and Serbs are asserting their independence.”

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