site.btaSerbian Student Released into House Arrest after Detention over Protest Calls

A student who was detained for 48 hours on suspicion of calling for a violent change of the constitutional order in Serbia was released and placed under house arrest, protesting students said on Thursday. 

The detained student was identified as twenty-year-old Stefan Tomic. The release of Tomic was reported on social media by student protesters.

“It’s terrifying!” Tomic said upon leaving custody, as his fellow students greeted him with loud applause.

On June 24, Tomic was detained near the Serbian government building by unidentified men who took him away in a car, and for hours none of his relatives were informed of his whereabouts.

Tomic was questioned at the Higher Prosecution Office in Belgrade on the grounds that he had committed the crime of 'calling for violent change of the constitutional order' under Article 309 of the Criminal Code.

On Thursday, the court ordered that he remain under house arrest and barred him from leaving his apartment.

According to the gathered evidence, on June 18, 2025, in a mobile application group of 16 members aimed at exchanging information and organizing protests, Tomic published photographs of a handwritten note claiming that at the protest scheduled for June 28 in Belgrade, on Vidovdan, “a violent incursion and subsequent blockade” of several state institutions, one public and several private media outlets should occur, with the aim of violently changing the constitutional order and removing the current authorities.

Meanwhile, on Wednesday, six people were detained in several locations across Serbia on suspicion of preparing acts against the constitutional order and security of Serbia.

Speaker of the National Assembly of Serbia, Ana Brnabic, said that the relevant institutions continued their work on the case and further searches and arrests were expected.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic warned that the State would intervene if violence or unrest occurred during the protest in Belgrade scheduled for June 28, Vidovdan.

“We’ll see you on Vidovdan,” the students wrote on their Instagram profile, urging citizens to support them.

The last large protest in Belgrade was held on March 15, which, according to organizers, gathered about 500,000 participants.

Tensions in Serbia have grown since a railway station roof collapse in Novi Sad on November 1 claimed 15 lives. For months, protesters, mostly students, have blocked over 60 faculties, accusing the government and President Aleksandar Vucic of corruption. Two ministers resigned, as did Prime Minister Milos Vucevic.