Kremlin says Russia sees attempts by 3rd parties to provoke unrest in Serbia

By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) – The Kremlin on Monday said that Russia sees attempts by third parties to provoke unrest in Serbia, as hundreds protested the results of snap general and local elections in the Balkan country on the weekend.

“There is internal legislation, electoral bodies, and there are also observers who have not recorded any violations that could cast doubt on the legitimacy of the elections that took place. In addition, there are processes and attempts by third forces, including from abroad, to provoke similar unrest in Belgrade. This is what we are seeing,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists in a press briefing in Moscow.

Moscow, he said, has no doubts the Serbian government will ensure the rule of law in the country, adding that the events taking place in the country are Serbia’s internal affairs and that Russia never interferes in such matters.

“Everything that happens is purely an internal affair of Serbia. Serbia has a legal, legitimate leadership, which, in our opinion, is capable of taking all necessary measures. We have never interfered and do not intend to interfere in internal affairs, especially in the internal affairs of our allied and partner Serbia,” he said.

Peskov added that Russia and Serbia are “united by a common historical and cultural heritage” and that Moscow treats its ties with Belgrade “very carefully” and “values them very much.”

He also said that cooperation between Russia and Serbia “has very broad prospects in a wide variety of areas.”

On Sunday, hundreds of residents from Serbia’s capital Belgrade tried to break into the city assembly building in a protest organized by the opposition alliance Serbia Against Violence (SPN), which said the polls were marred by irregularities.

On the situation, President Aleksandar Vucic said in an address to the nation: “There is no ‘color revolution’ going on. We are trying not to injure any of the demonstrators and are attempting to resolve everything peacefully."

According to the preliminary results of elections for the Belgrade City Assembly, the ruling Serbian Progressive Party won 39.34% of the vote and secured 49 seats, while the SPN coalition won 34.27%, getting 42 seats.​​​​​​​