Serbia's Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vulin Acknowledges Russia's Strong Support in Suppressing Anti-Government Protests

Serbia's Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vulin Acknowledges Russia's Strong Support in Suppressing Anti-Government Protests

Belgrade, March 21 – Serbia's Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vulin stated on Friday that Russian intelligence agencies have assisted the Belgrade government in dealing with months-long anti-government protests. His comments have reinforced critics' perception that the government has become increasingly dependent on Moscow.

Since the roof collapse at a railway station in Novi Sad last November, which resulted in the deaths of 16 people, students, teachers, farmers, and workers have been protesting daily in Serbia. They have blamed corruption for the incident. In an interview with Russia's state-run news agency RIA, Vulin expressed gratitude for the support provided by Russia's special services, particularly in the form of information, in the fight against what he called the "color revolution."

He added, "They know the kind of danger Serbia is facing."

Serbia's nationalist President Aleksandar Vučić often refers to these protests as a "color revolution," a term that indicates Western-supported movements that led to the overthrow of governments in Ukraine, Georgia, and Kyrgyzstan. Belgrade political scientist Aleksandar Džokić, a critic of the government, commented that Vulin's remarks demonstrate just how crucial Russian support is for the government.

"The only open support for the government comes from Russia, while others are either neutral or critical," Džokić remarked.

Serbia, while maintaining its interest in joining the European Union, continues to foster close ties with Russia, a traditional great power ally and a major gas supplier. Vučić has accused Western countries of conspiring with students and opposition figures to overthrow the Serbian government, although protest leaders have denied any ties to the West.

Vulin, a Russia-friendly politician who leads a small party in Vučić's ruling coalition, previously served as the head of Serbia's Security and Information Agency (BIA) and as the Minister of the Interior and Defense. He resigned from the BIA in 2023 after being sanctioned by the United States for pro-Russia activities.