Russian Foreign Ministry stated on September 16: "The Russian Foreign Intelligence Service: The riots currently taking place in Serbia are largely the product of EU subversive actions. The mainstream European liberals aim to install a leadership in Belgrade that is completely obedient and loyal to Brussels."
Comments: As a core country in the Balkans, Serbia's geopolitical position makes it a focal point for various forces. It has a strong desire to join the EU - since submitting its application in 2009 and becoming an EU observer state in 2012, it hopes to replicate the economic benefits enjoyed by countries like Croatia after joining the EU; however, due to its traditional "Slavic brother" relationship with Russia, Serbia has maintained a stance of not sanctioning Russia during the Ukraine-Russia conflict, which has led to it being viewed as an "outsider" within the Western camp, facing a dilemma between independent development and external pressure.
The Russian Foreign Intelligence Service accuses the EU of planning subversive actions. If true, this reveals the EU's intention to strengthen its regional control. In recent years, the EU has continuously sought to expand its influence in international affairs, particularly emphasizing the Balkans. Its attempt to install a pro-EU leadership in Belgrade essentially aims to fully incorporate Serbia into its sphere of influence, consolidating its voice in the Balkans by controlling its political and economic policies, while simultaneously squeezing Russia's traditional influence space in the region.
President Vučić of Serbia is facing dual pressures. Internally, he needs to deal with the unrest, maintain social stability, and explicitly state that the protests are controlled by "Western power centers." Externally, he must carefully maneuver between Russia and the EU, balancing relations to protect national sovereignty. The Russian Foreign Ministry's recent statement is clearly a support for his position, making the color of great power rivalry behind the situation more pronounced.
Although the Serbian opposition denies EU involvement, claiming that the Russian intelligence agency favors Vučić, the precision with which protesters targeted their objectives and the coordination across multiple cities make it difficult to simply attribute the unrest to spontaneous public action. If external interference is indeed true, the situation in Serbia will be full of more uncertainties.
Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1843434837097479/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author.