Serbia slams Russia’s Wagner group for Ukraine recruitment bid

Serbian President Vucic denounces Russian web sites and social media teams for calling on volunteers to hitch the mercenary pressure.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has condemned Russian mercenary pressure Wagner for attempting to recruit troopers from his nation after the group ran a neighborhood media commercial for Serbs to combat in Ukraine.

The criticism marks a uncommon public rebuke from the Serbian chief in the direction of Russia – a steadfast ally of the Balkan nation.

Vucic slammed Russia’s web sites and social media teams for publishing commercials within the Serbian language, by which the Wagner Group calls on volunteers to hitch its ranks.

“Why do you do this to Serbia?” Vucic mentioned throughout a televised interview late on Monday. “Why do you, from Wagner, name anybody from Serbia when that it’s towards our rules?”

The controversial commercial appeared earlier this month within the Russian state media outlet RT’s Serbian affiliate.

The Serbian legislature has banned the participation of its residents in conflicts overseas, and several other folks have been sentenced for doing so.

Small numbers of Serbians have fought alongside Russian-backed forces in Ukraine since preventing first broke out within the nation in 2014.

Vucic denied allegations the Wagner Group, led by Evgeny Prigozhin, a detailed ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, has a presence in Serbia the place pro-Kremlin and ultranationalist organisations have supported the invasion of Ukraine.

The precise variety of Serbs who fought in Ukraine has by no means been disclosed by officers.

Moscow ally

Serbian defence minister Milos Vucevic additionally warned Serbs towards becoming a member of Russian ranks within the struggle.

“This can end in authorized penalties as soon as they’re able to be held accountable earlier than the state our bodies,” Vucevic instructed Radio Free Europe.

Serbia has lengthy been a dependable ally to Moscow, with shared Orthodox heritage, mutual hatred of NATO, and navy alliances throughout a number of wars strengthening their relations.

Serbia stays the one European nation – aside from Belarus – that didn’t be part of Western sanctions towards Moscow.

On Tuesday, Russia’s RIA information company printed footage apparently exhibiting two Serbian residents collaborating in a weapons coaching course in Ukraine.

The Wagner mercenary outfit based in 2014, which has been concerned in conflicts in Africa, Latin America and the Center East, shot to prominence after Putin despatched troops into Ukraine on February 24, 2022.

Tens of hundreds of Russians have relocated to Serbia for the reason that outbreak of struggle, the place most have been warmly welcomed.

Regardless of the arrival of dissident Russians fleeing the battle, Serbians by and huge stay ardent supporters of the invasion of Ukraine, with pro-Kremlin rallies held within the capital Belgrade.