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Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić denies rumors about lifting the visa-free regime with Russia and says any such decision would be immediately canceled...
Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić has dismissed reports that Belgrade may end visa-free travel for Russian citizens, reaffirming the country's close relations with Moscow despite the war in Ukraine.
His statement came after Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov commented on reports of a possible change in Serbian policy, warning that such decisions are usually accompanied by reciprocal measures. Meanwhile, the Russian ambassador to Belgrade, Aleksandr Botsan-Kharchenko, argued that the current visa-free regime remains beneficial for Serbia.
“This is the first time I have heard of something like this,” Vučić said during an appearance on TV Prva’s “Ćirilica” show. He added that he had personally contacted the Speaker of the Serbian Parliament, Ana Brnabić, to verify whether such an initiative had entered parliamentary procedure.
“There are many people who, on the eve of the elections, expect support from the Russian Federation and try to say the worst things about us,” Vučić declared, adding “there is no discussion on this issue and such a decision will not be made. Even if it were made, it would be immediately repealed.”
Serbia's close relations with Russia are making the country's path towards membership in the European Union increasingly difficult.
Serbia received EU candidate status in 2012 and opened accession negotiations in 2014. However, the process has stalled in recent years. In April, Brussels warned that Serbia risks losing up to 1.5 billion euros in EU funds due to concerns about democratic backsliding and its relations with Moscow.
In May, Ana Brnabić stated that the European Union had changed its enlargement criteria following the start of Russia's war in Ukraine.
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