Everything we know so far about the attempted 'color revolution' in Serbia

Following the defeat of the Serbian opposition in extraordinary parliamentary elections, its supporters caused riots in Belgrade. This event was described by the authorities as "a Maidan attempt", the coup d'état perpetrated in Ukraine in 2014.

Last week, Serbia was rocked by mass protests sparked by the opposition's refusal to accept its defeat in recent parliamentary elections. On December 24, supporters of an alliance of opposition parties even attempted to storm the municipal administration of the capital, Belgrade. In the midst of these events, the country's authorities suspect that the protests have the support of the West, which is trying to influence the political situation in Serbia and carry out a 'color revolution'.

Extraordinary parliamentary elections:

In early November, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic announced the dissolution of the national Parliament and called extraordinary parliamentary elections after receiving a request from the Government, which argued that "under current conditions [the measure] would guarantee a greater degree of democracy." , would reduce tensions that arise between opposing forces in society", and would also "reaffirm the right to freely express opinions and points of view" on political and economic issues, including the promotion of "European values".

The idea of dissolving Parliament has been promoted for months by opposition parties, which have formed a coalition called Serbia Against Violence. Protests have been held under this motto in the country for more than half a year, encouraged by two cases of mass shootings that occurred in spring. Protesters have demanded that the Government be held accountable.

Thus, on December 17, parliamentary and local elections were held in 65 cities and municipalities, including Belgrade. As a result, Vucic's coalition, Serbia Must Not Stop, won the parliamentary elections, winning 47% of the vote, followed by the Serbia Against Violence alliance with 23%.

Mass protests:

After the results were announced, protests have broken out across the country as the opposition bloc has refused to accept its defeat and accused the authorities of falsifying the voting results. Supporters of Serbia Against Violence demonstrated in the country's capital throughout last week, demanding the annulment of the election results. They blocked streets in front of the Republican Electoral Commission (CER) building and even tried to assault it.

The biggest escalation of tensions occurred on December 24, when a large crowd of opposition supporters gathered in front of the Belgrade Municipal Assembly and the entrance to the CER building in a mass demonstration. The opposition leaders asked the gathered citizens to surround the administration in a circle, and the leaders of Serbia Against Violence to enter the building and "speak from the balcony as victors." The protesters began to break window panes, lit flares and tried to break down the doors of the building, while police officers blocked the entrance from the inside.

According to data from the Serbian Ministry of the Interior, eight police officers were injured and 38 people were arrested during the protests.

Serbian government had been warned of the opposition's plans. Later, in a message to the nation, Vucic stated that "this is not a revolution" and asked the country's citizens "not to worry." In addition, the president pointed out that his government had been warned of the opposition's plans.

"Thanks to the foreign services, which made it clear that they knew what was being prepared, and reported and provided all the information, and to our intelligence services, which reacted in time," he said.

For her part, the country's Prime Minister, Ana Brnabic, reported that Moscow warned the Serbian authorities of possible unrest. "We had information from the services that warned about this. First of all, the Russian security service also provided us with that information," he said, calling the riots "a Maidan attempt," comparing the political climate in his country to the coup. of State perpetrated in Ukraine in 2014".

"Irrefutable information" that the West supports the protests in Serbia

In this context, the president also indicated that the situation in the country is "a consequence of much more serious geopolitical circumstances with which an attempt is made to destroy the sovereignty and independence of Serbia." "From time to time it seems to me that not only our political adversaries, but also their mentors from abroad, think that everyone in this country is an idiot. That no one has eyes, ears and that no one understands what happened last night. Everyone saw that, for almost three hours, police officers and the property of Serbian citizens were brutally attacked by those determined to destroy democracy in Serbia and the electoral will of our people," he said.

According to the Russian ambassador in Belgrade, Alexander Botsan-Kharchenko, who met with Vucic this Monday, he has "irrefutable information" that the West supports the protests that shook the country. "Realizing that in Belgrade the plans are not feasible in a calm and peaceful way, the opposition immediately started protests, which are encouraged and supported from outside. [...] It is true, and Vucic has spoken about it. [ ...] He has irrefutable data that there is incitement and support from the West," he said, stressing that the Serbian president "will not allow tensions to escalate" in the country.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova also accused Western countries of trying to influence the political situation in Serbia, using techniques that were used during the Maidan.

For his part, Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov also stated that attempts by other forces to provoke unrest in the country are being observed. "The processes and attempts of third forces, including from abroad, to provoke such unrest in Belgrade are evident," he declared, highlighting that Moscow is convinced that the Serbian authorities will be able to guarantee security and legitimacy in the country.

(Source: RT.)

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