Accusations from the Kremlin against the European Union (EU), but without any evidence.
This is the core of the message coming from Russian intelligence services, which accuse the EU and its member states of being behind the anti-government protests in Serbia.
As November 1 marks the anniversary of the accident that killed 16 people and sparked mass protests, the Kremlin has described as “brainwashed” the thousands of citizens demanding accountability from the authorities.
In a statement by Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) on September 15, it was claimed that Brussels’ “subversive activity” has been put into action.
Students who have blocked universities and are leading the protests are described as “radicalized youth” shifting from peaceful demonstrations toward “revolutionary” methods of clashes and violence.
“The background of European liberalism aims to bring to power, in the largest country of the Balkans, a leadership obedient and loyal to Brussels,” the SVR statement reads.
Ivana Strander, a fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies in Washington, assessed that the Kremlin continues to support the regime of President Aleksandar Vučić, who has consistently refused to impose sanctions on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine since 2022.
“Russian President Vladimir Putin is exploiting the Balkans to bypass sanctions and finance his war machine. At the same time, chaos in the Balkans works to Putin’s advantage, and Vučić is helping him in that regard,” she said.
