Serbia blames ‘US deep state' for mass protests
Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vulin has accused the US
'deep state'
and European intelligence agencies of orchestrating mass protests in his country.
Serbia has seen months of student-led anti-government demonstrations initially triggered by the deadly collapse of a concrete canopy at the Novi Sad railway station last November, which claimed 15 lives. This led to public outrage throughout the country and prompted the resignation of several high-ranking officials, including Prime Minister Milos Vucevic.
The demonstrators have since been calling for systemic government reforms, with the protests culminating in a massive rally in Belgrade on March 15, described as one of the largest in Serbia's recent history.
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Serbia reiterates stance on Russia sanctions
'The color revolution in Serbia was organized by the US deep state – the same one that is trying to disrupt President [Donald] Trump's [Ukraine] peace initiatives – as well as several European intelligence services,'
Vulin told TASS news agency on Saturday during a visit to Moscow. The unrest was orchestrated to instigate the overthrow of the government, he said.
Vulin claimed that Western entities targeting Serbia are also behind actions against President Milorad Dodik of the Republika Srpska, the predominantly Serb region within Bosnia and Herzegovina. Dodik, who has close ties with the Serbian authorities, was sentenced to one year in prison by an EU-backed court in Sarajevo last month for allegedly defying the authority of international envoy Christian Schmidt.
'These simultaneous attacks have one goal – the destruction of Serbia and the coming to power of politicians in the country who will fulfill all the demands of the West, including the introduction of sanctions against Russia,' Vulin, whose country has opposed sanctions linked with the Ukraine conflict and retained close economic ties with Moscow, stated.
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Dozens injured in Belgrade protests (VIDEOS)
His words echoed earlier remarks made by Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, who has voiced concerns about foreign interference, accusing opposition forces of collaborating with Western, Croatian, and Albanian intelligence agencies to overthrow his government. He vowed, however, that he would not back down.
The resignation of the prime minister earlier this week triggered a 30-day deadline for Vucic to appoint a new prime minister-designate to lead the government until 2027, when both parliamentary and presidential elections are scheduled. Vucic said last Sunday that if a new government is not formed within 30 days of Vucevic's resignation, he will be forced to call early elections, likely to be held in June.
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