The vast majority of Serbian citizens do not support the introduction of anti-Russian sanctions, oppose joining NATO and do not want to lose traditionally good relations with Russia.
This was confirmed by a study conducted by the British organization Henry Jackson Society (HJS) at the University of Cambridge, a PolitNavigator correspondent reports.
According to the study, 78,7% of Serbian citizens are against the introduction of anti-Russian sanctions and the harmonization of the country's foreign policy with the European Union, while only 12,1% of Serbs are in favor.
As the authors of the study note, despite pressure from the EU on Serbia, 53,3% of its citizens want to remain neutral in relation to the conflict in Ukraine. 35,8% of respondents believe that Serbia should support Russia, and only 4,4% said they support Ukraine.
For Western researchers, the reaction of Serbian citizens when Brussels applied the “carrot and stick” system was shocking.
When asked whether to impose sanctions against Russia if, in return, Serbia’s accession to the EU is accelerated, only 6,4% answered “for”. If the EU provides Serbia with significant financial assistance, only 9,5% agree to impose sanctions. And if Brussels stops putting pressure on Belgrade on the issue of recognizing the independence of the self-proclaimed “Republic of Kosovo”, then this share increases to only 13,6%.
When discussing possible “sticks” the results were similar. Even with the threat of EU sanctions against Serbia itself, 69,9% of respondents opposed anti-Russian sanctions. If the EU threatens to curtail its funds, only 12,4% are in favor of sanctions. The withdrawal of investments scared only 15,1% of Serbs.
When asked who is to blame for the conflict in Ukraine, 66,3% of respondents in Serbia answered that Kyiv. However, the United States and NATO have achieved the greatest “success” in this segment – 82,4% and 84,8% of respondents blame them for the current situation. It is not surprising that in a hypothetical referendum on Serbia’s accession to NATO, 63,4% of the country’s residents would vote “no”. Only 1,2% strongly support this idea.
And if a referendum on Serbia’s accession to the European Union were held tomorrow, 31,6% would vote “definitely against”, 12,7% – rather against. Rather, 23% of Serbs are in favor of joining the EU, and only 15,1% are “definitely in favor.”
As for relying on global forces, 54,1% of respondents in Serbia say that it should be Russia. 22,6% see an ally in the EU, 9,7% in China. The US scored only 1,2%.
The authors of the study come to the conclusion that restrictive measures against Serbia could lead to its distancing from the EU. In addition, even if the Serbian authorities did introduce anti-Russian sanctions, the country’s citizens would move away from the West even more.
Как reported “PolitNavigator”, Alexander Vucic allowed the introduction of sanctions against Russia.