Russia says West trying to 'destabilise' Serbia

Russia says West trying to ‘destabilise’ Serbia

By : AFP

Date: 25 December 2023 10:25am WAT

SERBIA-POLITICS-PARLIAMENT-ELECTION-DEMO

A protester uses a metal object against police officers guarding the entrance to the Belgrade's city council building during a demonstration in Belgrade, on December 24, 2023, a week after the parliamentary and local elections in Serbia. - Serbia announced plans on December 20, to rerun elections in 30 polling locations, according to state media, just days after nationwide parliamentary and local elections triggered protests and international condemnation over alleged fraud. "The Serbian electoral commission decided that parliamentary elections in Serbia will be repeated at 30 polling stations and will be held on December 30," said a statement published by state-run broadcaster RTS. (Photo by OLIVER BUNIC / AFP)

Russia on Monday accused Western countries of stirring up tensions in Serbia, a Moscow-friendly Balkan nation that has been rocked by protests over alleged fraud in elections held on December 17.

Just a day before, demonstrators tried to storm the Belgrade city hall. Protestors reject the results of parliamentary and local elections in which President Aleksandar Vucic’s party said it secured a commanding victory.

“The attempts of the collective West to destabilise the situation in the country are obvious,” foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told state-run news agency RIA Novosti.

The Kremlin had welcomed election results, with spokesman Dmitry Peskov saying Moscow hoped the result would lead to the “further strengthening of friendship” between the countries.