Serbia's prime minister has confirmed that Russian security services warned the country about "colour revolution"-style protests before they broke out in Belgrade.
Serbian protesters on the evening of December 24 attempted to break into government buildings in the capital Belgrade, a move that Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic called an "attempted color revolution".
President Vucic initially thanked "foreign agencies" for alerting Serbian security forces to the rioters' plans. Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabiс later thanked Russia for its support.
"I feel it is important, especially tonight, to stand up for Serbia and thank the Russian security services for providing us with information," Prime Minister Brnabic said in a televised speech.
Ms Brnabic added that when the Serbian government tried to raise the alarm about the issue, many sides brushed it off. "When we shared that information with the parties, they said: 'Oh, that's Russian disinformation, that's spreading fake news,'" she said.
Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabiс. Photo: Government of Serbia
Anti-government protests erupted in Serbia after the opposition accused the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) of rigging last week's parliamentary elections, which resulted in a victory over the pro-European Union (EU) Serbian Alliance Against Violence (SPN).
President Vucic has denied allegations of vote rigging and said the protests in the country were supported by the West. Vucic said the West wanted to oust him because of his close ties with Russia and Serbia's claim to sovereignty over Kosovo. The breakaway region of Kosovo declared independence in 2008, but Serbia has not recognized it.
After the protest in Belgrade, Serbian President Vucic is scheduled to receive Russian Ambassador Aleksandr Botsan-Kharchenko at his residence just across the square, opposite where the crowd had gathered earlier.
Ngoc Anh (According to RT/Reuters )
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