Serbian police arrested five people this Thursday on suspicion of attempting to overthrow the president of this Balkan country during a protest on Wednesday evening and illegal possession of weapons.
The arrested men – some with alleged ties to the Russian mercenary group Wagner – took part in a protest on Wednesday evening, in which far-right and pro-Russian groups took part, demanding that populist President Aleksander Vucic reject a Western-backed plan to normalize ties . with the breakaway Serbian province of Kosovo.
Vucic was willing to accept the Western countries’ plan and promised that he would not oppose Kosovo’s accession to international institutions, including the United Nations, in exchange for Serbia’s speedy accession to the European Union.
Protesters gathered outside the presidential building in central Belgrade, waving banners reading “Kosovo is the heart of Serbia”, “No surrender” and “Treason to Kosovo is betrayal to Russia!”
BELGRADE, SERBIA
Nuova manifestation a sostegno della Russia.
RUSSI-SERBI FRATELLI PER SEMPER.” pic.twitter.com/xEDR3hgDBn– @dessere88fenice (@dessere88fenice) February 15, 2023
Serbian authorities quickly ended the protests, claiming it was an attempted coup against the president and government.
The interior ministry reported on Thursday that the five men were arrested on suspicion of calling for “the violent overthrow of the government and president of Serbia, as well as possession of weapons and explosive material”.
On Wednesday, Vucic had accused the protesters of being anti-Serb and receiving funding and support from “a foreign country”, apparently referring to Russia.
The Russian ambassador to Serbia, Aleksander Botsan-Kharchenko, responded to the social network Twitter, saying that “Russia is determined to cooperate fully with friendly Serbia and does not interfere in the internal affairs of this country”.
Русија је опредељена за наставак свестране сарадње са пријатељском Србијом и не меша се у унутрашња питања Србије, што је јасно нагласио и МИП Русије у коментару од 13. фебруара. If you want to use the device, it is best to submit an application form.
– Александр Боцан-Харченко (@ABocanHarcenko) February 16, 2023
The protest stems from efforts by US and European officials to mediate a resolution to the long-standing dispute between Serbia and Kosovo, a former Serbian province whose 2008 declaration of independence Belgrade does not recognize.
Serbia has relied on its traditional Slavic ally, Russia, as well as China, both of which refuse to recognize Kosovo’s independence, which is supported by Washington and most EU countries.
Western officials fear Russia could use simmering tensions in Kosovo to try to destabilize the Balkan region, diverting attention from its invasion of Ukraine.
Source: DN
