Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vulin said that Russian spy services helped authorities in Belgrade respond to months of anti-government protests. Critics say the remarks reveal the government has become dependent on Moscow, Reuters reports. Students, backed by teachers, farmers and workers, have been holding daily protests in Serbia since late November in protest after the Novi Sad tragedy. "I am very grateful to the Russian special services, who always support us in our fight against color revolutions, primarily with information," Deputy Prime Minister Vulin said in an interview with Russia's state news agency RIA. "They know what danger is hanging over Serbia," Vulin was quoted as saying by RIA. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic often describes the protests as attempts to stage a "color revolution," a reference to pro-Western protests that toppled governments in Ukraine, Georgia and Kyrgyzstan in recent years. decades.
Aleksandar Jokic, a Belgrade-based political scientist critical of the government, said Vulin's remarks "reflect how important Russia's support for the regime is."
"The only open support for the regime comes from Russia, everyone else is either neutral or condemns it," he said.
Belgrade is balancing its aspirations to join the European Union with its close relations with Russia, a traditional key ally and major gas supplier.
Vucic accuses Western countries of conspiring with students and the opposition to overthrow Serbia's government, which has long maintained good relations with Moscow. Protest leaders deny any ties to the West.
Vulin, a pro-Russian politician who leads a small party in Vucic's ruling coalition, previously served as head of the Serbian Security and Information Agency (BIA) as well as interior and defense minister.
He resigned from the BIA after being placed on a US sanctions list in 2023 over allegations of pro-Russian activity.