Since the large protest in Belgrade on March 15, students, opposition politicians, and some experts have been demanding answers to one key question: Was a sound cannon used, or was it something else? The government has firmly denied the claims, as have certain pro-government media outlets—among them, the tabloid Informer.
But Informer has gone even further. By taking statements out of context and freely interpreting a post from protesting students about removing their vests, the tabloid framed it as evidence that students had supposedly „pre-planned the sound cannon scandal.“
The Controversy Over the Strange Sound
Although the protest took place days ago, one of the most hotly debated topics in Serbia remains the mysterious noise that disrupted a planned 15-minute silence.
Videos circulating on social media show the moment the sound was heard—people suddenly panicked and fled in opposite directions toward nearby buildings, leaving the center of the street empty.
The opposition, some experts, and students immediately claimed that a sound cannon—a device used for crowd control and considered a form of non-lethal weaponry—had been deployed.
At the same time, many citizens reported experiencing disorientation, ringing in their ears, headaches, and nausea. Some even sought medical attention for their symptoms.
However, Serbia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA), the Security Intelligence Agency (BIA), the Serbian Armed Forces, and, most notably, President Aleksandar Vučić, have all repeatedly denied that a sound cannon was used.
Yet, official statements have been riddled with contradictions. Initially, authorities insisted that the police did not possess such a device. But in the days that followed, Interior Minister Ivica Dačić confirmed that the MIA does, in fact, have sonic devices—though he insisted they had „never been used.“
Government Narrative and Media Alignment
Pro-government media outlets have largely echoed the government’s narrative, primarily featuring statements from officials while avoiding alternative perspectives.
This one-sided reporting has been a pattern since student-led protests and blockades began late last year. Government-aligned media have consistently portrayed students in a negative light, often accusing them of being part of a „color revolution“ or attempting to overthrow the state with foreign funding.
„Protests and social destabilization have been ongoing for more than four months following the tragic collapse of a canopy in Novi Sad. Those who want to undermine Serbia seized on this tragedy to push for power without elections,“ Informer has repeatedly claimed.
This same tabloid has now aligned its reporting on the sound cannon controversy with the government’s position.
„Surveillance footage proves that haters made up the entire story because the coup attempt on March 15 failed,“ Informer wrote.
The tabloid even published an „analysis“ by its editor-in-chief, Dragan J. Vučićević, who declared:
„Some fools are pushing the claim that a sound cannon was used at the opposition protest. That is an absolute lie.“
Informer’s Allegations Against Students
Not content with just denying the allegations, Informer took its coverage a step further. The tabloid misinterpreted a student post about removing their vests at the protest’s conclusion, presenting it as supposed proof that students had „pre-planned the sound cannon scandal.“
The Belgrade protest ended after several incidents near the Serbian Parliament. Students had previously announced that if violence occurred—something they distanced themselves from in advance—they would remove their security vests and call on others to leave.
That’s precisely what happened in the evening hours when, according to students, stones were thrown at them from the direction of Pionirski Park. This marked the end of their official protest organization.
Three days later, students occupying the Faculty of Technical Sciences posted on X (formerly Twitter):
„When you think about it, in hindsight, removing the vests was a chess move. Did they checkmate us, or did we checkmate them?“
Informer seized on this post, running the headline:
„THEY EXPOSED THEMSELVES! The ‘Sound Cannon Scandal’ Was Pre-Planned?!“
The tabloid further claimed:
„The student protesters from the Faculty of Technical Sciences, probably unintentionally and without much thought, revealed that the ‘sound cannon scandal’ was planned in advance and carefully orchestrated!“
According to Informer, the post was essentially a boast about „checkmating the government“ by using the vest removal as a tactical maneuver.
„They couldn’t keep quiet or hide for even three days. Instead, they triumphantly revealed how this was a pre-planned chess move, ready to be used if the mass protest failed—which is exactly what happened on March 15 in Belgrade!“
The tabloid then attempted to explain the supposed „real story“:
„Multiple surveillance camera recordings from Srpskih Vladara Street in central Belgrade show that the moment people started fleeing was when students removed their vests and triggered internal panic. This very moment—people running from the street to the sidewalks—was later falsely presented as the activation of the so-called sound cannon.“
Students Push Back Against Informer
Two days ago, the protesting students directly responded to Informer and its editor-in-chief, accusing them of running a campaign of lies, manipulation, and targeting individual students since the blockade began.
Students from the Faculty of Political Sciences declared they would no longer limit themselves to press releases in response to „vicious attacks.“
„From this moment on, you are our direct enemy. This is no ordinary conflict—this is a media war between Informer and students, between lies and truth, between abuse of power and resistance. We will not let our colleagues fall prey to media vultures. What comes next—you should be worried,“ they warned.
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In its reporting on the students’ statement, Informer claimed that students had „shown their true colors,“ announcing a „war in which they will use any means necessary“ and even „threatening Informer journalists with lynching.“
According to Informer, the message to its employees was clear: „From tonight onward, Informer journalists should fear the student protesters!“
Preuzimanje i objavljivanje tekstova sa portala KoSSev nije dozvoljeno bez navođenja izvora. Hvala na poštovanju etike novinarske profesije.
