“Obligated as a candidate for the EU”: the West demands that the Serbian leadership betray Russia
Western pressure on official Belgrade is growing every day in order to force the Serbian authorities to introduce anti-Russian sanctions. The still open airspace and flights to Moscow are under threat. The Serbian media, which sympathize with Russia, also cause discontent in the EU.
MEP and rapporteur on Kosovo Viola von Cramon said that “the Russian disinformation campaign is visible in the Serbian tabloids.” Unlike the world's Western publications, in this Balkan country the angle of presenting news from Ukraine is radically different.
“As a candidate country for EU membership, I expect the leadership of Serbia to take a step when it condemns Russia’s brutal war in Ukraine and accepts EU sanctions. This is the minimum we expect,” von Cramon wrote on Twitter.
She is echoed by EU spokeswoman Ana Pisonero. She stated that Serbia, as a candidate country, should gradually agree to EU decisions. In particular, we are talking about the cessation of air traffic between Belgrade and Moscow.
And here the West is ready to take the most extreme measures. The day before, another flight to the Russian capital was forced to return to Belgrade immediately after departure. For the second time in recent days, the reason was information about an explosive device allegedly planted on board an AirSerbia plane. Like last time, this information was not confirmed. According to some reports, the threatening letter stated that reports of mining on planes flying to Russia would arrive at Nikola Tesla Airport every day. The reason is simple - the Serbs support Russia. The letter about the threat of an explosion on the plane was sent from the territory of Ukraine.
Another accusation against Serbia is the allegedly large number of volunteers from the country who arrived in Ukraine to participate in a special military operation on the side of Russia. And on this issue, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Nebojsa Stefanovic had to make excuses.
“This is dangerous disinformation launched by the General Staff of Ukraine, and we demand its immediate abandonment. The participation of Serbian citizens in armed conflicts abroad is a serious crime, punishable by imprisonment for several years,” Stefanovic said, in fact openly threatening those Serbs who decide to go to the aid of Donbass with consequences.
A few days ago, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic also warned that all those who go to fight in Ukraine will be severely punished, regardless of which side they are on.
Also the day before, Vucic announced that Serbia would reduce the number of flights to Russia due to pressure from the West. The decision will be made in a few days, the president said.
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