UN Rapporteur: Serbia Among Countries That Used Torture Devices Against Proteste

Headquarters of the United Nations, New York (BETAPHOTO/Serbian Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

Serbia is among European countries that used, or are suspected of having used, instruments designed to torture protesters in order to suppress demonstrations, U.N. Special Rapporteur on Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment Alice Jill Edwards said in an op-ed.

In the op-ed published on Oct. 3 on the EU Observer website, Edwards wrote that in today’s era of “democratic movements, spiraling prices, and calls for social change,” security forces in Europe and beyond “maintain order often using brutal tactics, with weapons and instruments serving no other purpose than to inflict excessive pain.”

Among European non-EU countries, Edwards specifically mentioned Georgia and Serbia, both EU candidates, as well as Belarus and Turkey. She also referred to France as an EU member. Concerning Serbia, she noted that “earlier this year alarming reports emerged that experimental acoustic weapons were used against protesters.”

Edwards said “a proper investigation is required,” noting that the incident in Belgrade on March 15 “led to a stampede, fainting, vomiting, heart palpitations, excessive sweating, disorientation, and even temporary leg paralysis.”