INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
2022 for "illegal and disruptive actions," is one of a group of 30 Russian election observers representing the Organization for Security and
litmus test for the Balkan nation, which is caught between its aspirations to join the European Union and its close allyship with Russia
Under President Aleksandar Vucic, the populist ruling party has dominated since 2012 by marginalizing critical voices, but this year a
credible, pro-Western opposition has unified to challenge him.Though Moscow is still invited to send observers as part of the OSCE, concerns
Movement of Serbia Miroslav Aleksic (L) greets Party of Freedom and Justice's Marinika Tepic (R) during the final pre-election rally of the
and fair elections.Since Vucic called the snap elections in November, opposition members and government critics have reported facing
In the countryside, farmers voting for the opposition parties have been beaten up and hospitalized or had their agricultural machinery
Both the European Parliament and the European Commission have regularly cited serious deficiencies in Serbian democracy in their reports on
Most complaints concern the rule of law and freedom of the press.Graffiti in Trebinje reads "When will the army return to Kosovo?"MTSince
on Russia and openly maintaining friendly ties with Moscow.Western foreign ministries worry that this cozy relationship will bias the
work by delaying critical decisions including on leadership positions and budgets at its headquarters in Vienna.Though five EU countries
have advocated keeping Russia in the OSCE, one of the few pan-European organizations of which it is still a member, other members are losing
The OSCE cannot make that decision.The ruling SNS party does not appear to be worried about security concerns
Russian election monitors will affect the vote this time
Serbia Against Violence coalition
remains dysfunctional and burdened by the divide between Russia and the West
physical Russian presence has been increasing here since the start of the war
propaganda alongside an already pro-Kremlin Serbian state media
Russian-Serbian business ties have strengthened in recent months, with Russian-made products and foodstuffs flooding shops and Serbian rakia
spirits turning up in Moscow
Trebinje with Russian and Republika Srpska flags that reads "Brothers."MTSerbian politicians, including former Security Intelligence Agency
head Aleksandar Vulin, regularly visit Moscow
Moldovan election authorities refused to grant them accreditation, citing security concerns.Ivana Stradner, a research fellow at the
