Serbia’s Sound Cannon Claim: A New Front in Info War

Serbia’s Interior Ministry has formally accused a prominent military analyst of spreading false information after he claimed police used a directed-energy ‘sound cannon’ against protesters. The device, officially known as a Long Range Acoustic Device (LRAD), can emit painful, focused sound waves. The analyst’s assertion that it was deployed during recent unrest has ignited a fierce debate over security force tactics and the limits of public commentary in Serbia.

The ministry’s statement, issued late last week, alleges the analyst’s remarks constitute “inciting panic and spreading untrue information,” and threatens legal action. This move is widely seen as an attempt to discredit a critical voice. The analyst, a retired military officer, has stood by his claim, citing unnamed sources and technical analysis of video footage from the protests. He argues the government is using non-lethal crowd-control weapons without transparency, and that the ministry’s response is an effort to silence scrutiny.

Balkan Echoes of a Sonic Weapon Debate

The controversy touches on a deeper regional unease. LRADs—Long Range Acoustic Devices—are not new to the Balkans. They were reportedly used by Serbian forces during the 2020 protests, and similar devices have been documented in other regional security forces. The ministry’s denial, and its aggressive posture toward the analyst, fits a pattern of deflecting questions about police and military hardware. For many in Kosovo and the wider region, this evokes memories of opaque security apparatuses and the weaponization of information. The analyst’s claim, whether fully accurate or not, has opened a window into the secretive procurement and deployment of non-lethal weaponry by Balkan states.

The timing is also notable. With tensions simmering in northern Kosovo and Serbia’s military on a heightened footing, any story about novel or intimidating police equipment fuels public anxiety. The ministry’s heavy-handed response—singling out an individual critic—risks amplifying the very story it seeks to suppress. In the age of social media, the ‘sound cannon’ claim has already echoed far beyond Belgrade, becoming a symbol of opaque security policies.

Strategic Silence or Strategic Bluster?

Belgrade’s decision to publicly name and threaten a private analyst is unusual. It suggests either that the claim hit a nerve, revealing a real capability, or that the ministry is overreacting to a fringe theory. The analyst, for his part, has not backed down, challenging the ministry to prove the device does not exist. This standoff leaves the public in a familiar Balkan predicament: choosing between official denials and the word of a lone expert. For now, the ‘sound cannon’ remains a mystery—but the political fallout is already loud and clear.