Russian anti-war activists maintain protest after activists face entry, residence issues in Serbia

BELGRADE, Serbia — Pro-democracy Russians in Serbia protested Sunday after two outstanding anti-war activists and critics of Russian President Vladimir Putin stated they confronted issues with entry and residence permits within the Balkan nation.

Several dozen activists held banners studying “We came to live in peace” and ”I really like Serbia and I need protected and joyful life right here,” as they gathered at a central sq. in Belgrade, the Serbian capital.

The rally got here days after Serbian police refused to increase a residency allow for Vladimir Volokhonski and weeks after one other outstanding activist, Peter Nikitin, spent greater than sooner or later on the Belgrade airport due to an entry ban, in response to the 2 activists.

Serbia’s authorities have cited unspecified safety considerations in each instances, they stated. There was no speedy response to an e-mail request for remark from police by The Associated Press.

“We are here today to protest against the pressure … Russian antiwar activists (have been) experiencing here in Serbia recently,” Nikitin stated. “None of us understand how anything we do can threaten national security of Serbia … we have no idea what’s next.”

About 200,000 Russian residents are believed to have fled to Serbia for the reason that begin of the invasion of Ukraine as the man Slavic nation doesn’t require visas for Russians.

The Balkan nation has maintained pleasant relations with Russia and has not joined Western sanctions towards Moscow, regardless of condemning its invasion of Ukraine. Serbian authorities haven’t commented on both Nikitin’s or the case of Volokhonski.

Nikitin and Volokhonski each have been lively in organizing protests towards the invasion of Ukraine and Putin’s crackdown on political opponents. The two fashioned the Russian Democratic Society in Serbia, which gathers democracy-minded Russians within the Balkan nation.

Volokhonski stated he believed the refusal by the authorities to increase his keep in Serbia “is connected to our activities is Serbia, our Russian Democratic Society events here, or our activities to help Ukraine, to support our political prisoners in Russia.”

The United States just lately imposed sanctions towards Serbia’s pro-Russia intelligence chief, Aleksandar Vulin, accusing him of crimes and corruption. Serbian media have reported that Vulin wiretapped a Russian opposition assembly in Belgrade in 2021, which he has denied.