Video of Vladimir Štimac's arrest released; Prosecutor's Office stated: "He called for a violent overthrow"

According to the statement, he was arrested on suspicion that, on November 2 in the afternoon and evening hours, at Nikola Pašić Square, in the immediate vicinity of the National Assembly of Serbia, he called for the violent overthrow of the constitutional order and incited participants of an unregistered gathering to attack participants of another, registered gathering taking place in Pioneer Park, as well as to attack police officers and to violently overthrow holders of the highest state offices.

He is suspected of having, before a crowd of citizens who were recording him and later posting the videos on social media, called on others to gather in front of the National Assembly, saying that “everyone should come,” to “call the tractors to come from all sides,” and using obscene language. He allegedly referred to the police officers stationed in front of the Assembly as “criminals” sent there by Vučić “to push the people who are demanding justice” and who “don’t even have identification numbers,” the prosecutor’s office said in its statement.

According to media reports, the person in question is former basketball player Vladimir Štimac.

The suspect allegedly used obscene language throughout the recorded videos, cursing at police officers and participants of the other gathering, while repeatedly calling on citizens to “take to the streets,” in an attempt to stir emotions among the public. He also claimed that the police were attacking Dijana Hrka, the mother of a young man who died on November 1, 2024, when a canopy collapsed at the Novi Sad railway station — she has been on a hunger strike.

Upon noticing one police officer guarding the National Assembly with a rifle on his chest, he reportedly shouted at him: “Hey, put that gun away!”

All of these actions led to citizens gathering in front of the National Assembly, who, motivated by Štimac’s calls, attacked police officers and participants of the other rally, throwing pyrotechnics, glass bottles, and stones, as a result of which one police officer sustained a serious leg injury.

During the same incident, a fire broke out in one of the tents used by participants of the other gathering.

The suspect has been placed in custody for up to 48 hours on suspicion of committing the criminal offense of calling for the violent overthrow of the constitutional order and violent behavior at a sports event or public gathering by incitement, the prosecutor’s office stated.

As a reminder, media outlets reported last night that, acting on the order of the Higher Public Prosecutor’s Office in Belgrade, officers of the Criminal Police Directorate arrested Vladimir Štimac, who, according to the reports, spent the entire day inciting violence in front of the Serbian Parliament — urging attackers to assault the so-called “Ćacilend” protest site and police officers securing the gathering, with the intent of violently overthrowing the legitimate representatives of the government.

Throughout the duration of the unregistered protest, he repeatedly insulted police officers in the harshest terms, calling them “Vučić’s criminals,” the media reported.