Dušan Nikezić, MP and Vice President of the Party of Freedom and Justice (SSP), has strongly criticized the Serbian government’s handling of the energy crisis, calling recent remarks by Minister Dubravka Đedović Handanović “shameful”.
Đedović Handanović publicly complained that Serbia “wasn’t given even a single day” to allow NIS – the state oil company with Russian ownership – to continue operations. But Nikezić pointed out that the situation was long anticipated.
“Sanctions on Russian energy have been in place for over three and a half years. US sanctions on NIS were announced a year ago, delayed nine times, and officially took effect on October 10,” said Nikezić.
“Throughout this period, Vučić’s government did nothing—just waited for Russia and America to solve a problem that concerns only the people of Serbia,” he added.
He further criticized the government for reckless energy policy and amateur diplomacy, citing the consequences:
- Sanctions on NIS
- Uncertainty over gas supplies after December 31
- Importing both coal and electricity, despite Serbia’s previous energy independence
- Citizens paying 50% higher electricity bills and the most expensive fuel in the region
“You will once again adopt a desperate, last-minute solution tomorrow at the government’s emergency session. As usual, it won’t serve the Serbian people, but only the corrupt interests of those close to the regime,” Nikezić charged.
The US State Department recently stated that removal of Russian influence over NIS will enhance Serbian energy security, yet the Serbian government has used this scenario to fuel uncertainty and shift blame externally, instead of addressing structural failures.
Nikezić concluded by accusing Vučić’s regime of destroying Serbia’s once-robust energy sector, leaving citizens in the deepest uncertainty ahead of winter.
“While you enrich yourselves on corrupt deals, citizens are left in fear and instability,” he said.
