Security and international relations analyst Ivana Stradner has raised concerns over possible Russian involvement in Serbia ahead of the country’s snap parliamentary elections on October 25, claiming that Russian intelligence could be preparing an operation aimed at influencing developments around the vote.
Stradner, a research fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), has repeatedly warned about foreign interference and Russian influence in Serbia ahead of the election. In testimony presented to a U.S. congressional briefing earlier this month, she described the October 25 vote as a significant test for Serbia and raised concerns about foreign efforts to influence the country’s political and electoral processes.
In a statement cited by The Geopost, Stradner criticized what she described as Serbia’s increasingly close relationship with Moscow and Russia’s alleged support for Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić.
“If this is only a tactical move to rally the right around you — OK. But if the Russophilia is genuine, while Moscow supports Vučić and has given him a package to preserve the regime… then I truly have no words,” Stradner wrote.
She also referred to reports of cooperation between Russian and Serbian intelligence services in connection with the so-called “sound cannon” case.
Claim about October 25
Stradner further wrote that Russian intelligence was allegedly preparing “hell” for Serbia on October 25.
“Just so you know, Russian intelligence is preparing ‘hell’ for you on October 25,” she said.
However, she did not provide publicly verifiable evidence or specific details in the cited statement to substantiate what she was referring to. The claim therefore remains an allegation and could not be independently established from the available information.
Her warning comes amid broader concerns raised by U.S. lawmakers and foreign-policy analysts about Russian influence in Serbia ahead of the election. At a September 16 briefing in the U.S. Congress, participants discussed risks to the integrity of the Serbian electoral process and the influence of Russia, China and Iran.
Stradner has also recently highlighted Serbia’s political and security ties with Moscow. On September 22, she criticized the participation of a Serbian electoral official in a Moscow forum on electoral sovereignty, where Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov also spoke.
Earlier this week, she told Radio Free Europe that Moscow could potentially use energy supplies as a source of political leverage over Belgrade, particularly as Serbia seeks to extend its gas-supply arrangements with Russia.
Serbia’s snap parliamentary elections are scheduled for October 25, 2026, following the dissolution of parliament on September 9.
