EditVučić thanks Russia’s secret services for “EU Maidan” warning
The Serbian president said that SVR told him that the protests are largely the result of "subversive activities by the EU"
President Aleksandar Vučić has thanked Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) for providing information on what he described as preparations for a “Maidan scenario” in Serbia. Speaking to journalists, Vučić said that Serbia “carefully monitors every message” from the SVR and takes its warnings seriously.
“I have no doubt that those who organised the colour revolution cannot simply give up, too much money has been invested. That is why they will make a final attempt to seize power by force. We are ready for this. We thank our Russian partners for the information and the notifications, our service will contact them further, and we will defend Serbia,” Vučić stated.
According to the SVR, the current unrest in Serbia, particularly among the youth, is largely the result of subversive activities by the EU, Vučić said. The Russian service claimed that European elites were attempting to exploit the anniversary of the tragic events in Novi Sad on 1 November as a trigger for wider protests, focusing on “brainwashing” young Serbs with promises of a “bright European future”.
In response to these warnings, Vučić sought to “defend” his leadership during his visit to Tokyo.
He marked Serbia’s Day of Unity by raising the national flag at Expo Osaka, accompanied by the national anthem and patriotic songs, stressing that his role abroad was part of securing investment and political support. Serbia prepares for hosting Expo 2027.
“While I work, others comment. I celebrated our holiday together with our Japanese hosts, but I also did important things for our country. Talks with the Japanese government are not a waste of time, they are an extremely important political act,” Vučić said, addressing opposition figures who criticised his absence.
The president also used the opportunity to highlight Serbia’s upcoming military parade in Belgrade on 20 September.
Display of army power
He promised that citizens would witness an army “ten times stronger” than in the past, pointing to years of economic development as the foundation for strengthening the armed forces.
“My actions speak best, and what you will see at the parade is the result of our efforts over the last 13–14 years for the country’s development and economic growth. Only an economically strong Serbia can build such an army,” Vučić explained.
Responding to opposition leader Zdravko Ponoš, who argued that the parade was intended to “distract citizens with noise”, Vučić dismissed the criticism and described the military display as a symbol of national resilience.
He added that complaints about institutional changes revealed the depth of opposition influence within state structures, which he portrayed as part of an attempted coup.
“Yes, there will be many changes. And I think their words confirm exactly this, because when they say that changes are being prepared in the police, and in other places, and they complain about it, then you realise how the coup was actually organised and how deep the influence of the blockers was in state institutions,” Vučić said.
He reiterated that Serbia had withstood significant attempts to destabilise the state and pledged to continue strengthening institutions and the army in the coming months.
Protests in Serbia have continued for more than 10 months. The demonstrations were triggered by the collapse of the Novi Sad railway station canopy on 1 November, which killed 16 people.
Protesters blame Vučić’s government for corruption and substandard reconstruction work. Over these months, Serbian security forces have repeatedly exceeded their powers and attacked peaceful demonstrations. Vučić has consistently downplayed the real number of participants, even though they are the largest protests in Serbia’s history.
During the protest on the evening of 5 September, police intervened brutally against demonstrators on the University of Novi Sad campus. Witnesses reported that alongside protesters, some officers were also vomiting after exposure to tear gas.
Serbian students accuse regime of using toxic gas at Novi Sad protest
Vučić said that protesters in Novi Sad were supported by a “European rabble that came to destroy our country”. The president stressed that they would face trial in accordance with Serbian law.
“Kremlin is fully backing Vučić’s regime”
Dragan Đilas, president of the Party of Freedom and Justice (SSP), responded by accusing Moscow of fully backing Vučić’s regime.
“By inventing the ‘Serbian Maidan’, Russia’s intelligence service has once again fully supported Vučić’s regime. This is not the first time – they did the same before the protests over election fraud a year and a half ago. At that time, Vučić publicly thanked them for the ‘information’ they provided, according to which the opposition wasallegedly preparing the same ‘Serbian Maidan’,” Đilas said in a statement released by the SSP.
He added that the Russian service had not “revealed” who currently represents Serbia in the Russo-Serbian committee against “colour revolutions”.
“Is it still Aleksandar Vulin, the former head of BIA, who was sanctioned by the United States over ties to organised crime?” Đilas asked.
In May 2021, while serving as Interior Minister, Vulin oversaw Serbian police operations that wiretapped a private meeting in Belgrade of prominent Russian dissidents, including Vladimir Kara-Murza (a journalist and activist later imprisoned in Russia), Andrei Pivovarov (a former opposition politician), and lawyer Dmitry Zakhvatov.
The gathering, organized under the guise of a seminar, focused on anti-Kremlin strategies and human rights.Just two days after the meeting, Vulin traveled to Moscow and reportedly handed transcripts of the intercepted conversations directly to Nikolai Patrushev, Secretary of Russia’s Security Council and a key figure in the Kremlin’s security apparatus.
This intelligence-sharing allegedly enabled Russian authorities to act swiftly: Pivovarov was arrested at St. Petersburg airport in late May 2021, shortly after the transcripts were delivered, on fabricated charges of extremism. Kara-Murza’s 2022 poisoning and subsequent arrest on treason charges (he was sentenced to 25 years in 2023) were also linked by him to the leaked information, which he claimed provided Moscow with insights into opposition networks.
Caption: Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic arrives to attend a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse, one day ahead of China’s Victory Parade commemorating the end of WWII in Beijing, China, 02 September 2025. EPA/ALEXANDER KAZAKOV / SPUTNIK / KREMLIN / POOL MANDATORY CREDIT
Updated: September 17, 2025 - 05:26
