The Serbian-Russian Humanitarian Center in Niš has received nearly €2.3 million from the Serbian budget over the past decade, but there is no clear information on how these funds have been spent, according to a new investigation by Radio Free Europe (RSE).
The center, established 14 years ago as a bilateral initiative for emergency response, operates near Serbia’s second-largest airport. It is equipped with firefighting equipment, vehicles, and training facilities, and typically responds to calls from the Serbian Ministry of Internal Affairs.
Despite repeated requests, neither the Center, the Russian Embassy, nor the Serbian government and its ministries have provided details regarding the use of the funds. According to Serbia’s Treasury Administration, the center has held a dedicated account since 2014 to receive budget transfers, totaling over 268 million dinars (€2.29 million).
Annual payments have varied, with a notable increase in 2024 when the center received approximately 55 million dinars (€470,000), followed by 48 million dinars (€410,000) in 2025.
While Russia describes the center as “the most important in the Balkans” for emergency situations, some Western countries have raised concerns that the facility could serve as a cover for intelligence or military operations, pointing to its proximity to NATO forces in Kosovo.
