Putinism is a script followed by Aleksandar Vučić. This is what the professor at the Faculty of Criminology and Security Studies of the University of Sarajevo, Edina Becirevic, thinks.
In an interview with Portal Analitika, she estimates that the underestimation of malignant influences by regional leaders strengthens Russia’s presence in the region. She also spoke about the terrorist attack that happened in September last year in Banjska.
It underlines that Russian activity in this part of the world has long gone beyond the context of soft power and that we are witnessing a hybrid war developed by the spread of disinformation and political subversion.
The professor says that the Russian-Serbian world is waiting for the moment to implement the announced union, taking advantage of global changes.
Referring to the situation in Montenegro, Becirevic said that with the Dual Citizenship Law, if approved, the keys to Montenegro will be handed over to Aleksandar Vučić or one of his future successors.
Postponing Montenegro’s EU membership, she adds, is an extension of the Serbian world’s dream.
“In the Western Balkans, the Russian and Serbian worlds are waiting for the moment when they will be able to take advantage of global changes and implement a program of unification. This is something that both Vucic and his clientelistic regimes and political parties openly announce. Let’s remember, for example, that the negotiations in Karagjorgjev for the partition of Bosnia-Herzegovina between Slobodan Milosevic and Franjo Tuxman took place in great secrecy. This is a sharp contrast to the open narrative about Republika Srpska’s secession from Bosnia and Herzegovina, and shows the seriousness of their intentions, but also the danger of war. Changing the borders in this region cannot be done peacefully”, she thinks.
However, according to some estimates, the Bosnian professor thinks that there will be no attempt to incite armed conflicts in the region until an agreement is reached between Putin and Vucic.
“It seems that Russia, without the support of Serbia, cannot do it alone. A scenario like the Banjska case could happen, but since that attempt ended ingloriously for the rebels in Kosovo and the Serbian regime, it is hard to believe that in the near future the regime in Serbia would dare to implement such a scenario similar”.
