Russian Foreign Ministry Accuses The West Of Fermenting A 'Color Revolution' In Serbia

 

DNYUZ/New York Times: Russia Sees a Western Hand Behind Serbian Street Protests 

Fishing in Serbia’s troubled waters after a contested general election, Russia on Monday accused the West of orchestrating anti-government street protests in Belgrade, the Serbian capital, that flared into violence on Sunday evening. 

Claims of a Western plot by Russia’s ambassador to Serbia, Alexander Botsan-Harchenko, were the latest efforts by Moscow to thwart a so far mostly fruitless diplomatic campaign by the United States and Europe to lure Serbia out of Russia’s orbit and break traditionally strong ties between the two Slavic and Orthodox Christian nations. 

Previously peaceful street protests in Belgrade over what the opposition says was a rigged general election on Dec. 17 turned ugly on Sunday after protesters tried to storm the capital’s City Council building and were met by volleys of tear gas from riot police officers.  

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 Russian Foreign Ministry Accuses The West Of Fermenting A 'Color Revolution' In Serbia  

West behind ‘color revolution’ attempt in Serbia – Moscow -- RT  

West’s attempts to inflame tense situation in Serbia wholly transparent — Russian diplomat -- TASS 

Russian Foreign Ministry on Unrest in Serbia: West Tries to Shake Up Situation in Belgrade -- TASS 

Kremlin: Third Parties From Overseas Seeking to Stir Up Unrest in Belgrade -- Sputnik  

Russia Says West Trying to 'Destabilize' Serbia -- Moscow Times/AFP

Russia says West inciting Serbia protests as dozens arrested -- DW

Serbia's President Says Many EU Countries Are In ‘Direct War’ With Russia

Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic © Bernadett Szabo © Reuters  

RT: Many EU countries are in ‘direct war’ with Russia – Serbia 

Europeans are sending weapons to Ukraine and are angry that Serbia “is not in their shoes,” President Aleksandar Vucic claims 

Many EU states are in “a direct war” with Russia and are “angry” with Belgrade for refusing to go along with sanctions, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Saturday. 

Speaking at a press conference two days after attending a meeting between the 27 EU leaders and six heads of government from the West Balkans, Vucic claimed the Balkans “were not important that day” for the EU, as the bloc is “completely at war with Russia” and its priority was to provide Ukraine and Moldova with EU candidate status. 

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WNU Editor: Serbia is having a problem because of Russian sanctions .... President Vucic says Serbia will seek replacement for Russia oil (News.am).

Russian President Putin Apologizes To Serbian President Vucic Over Russian Wpokeswoman Zakharova Facebook Post

Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova © Mikhail Voskresenskiy © Sputnik

BBC: Putin apology to Serbia over Russian spokeswoman Zakharova

Russian President Vladimir Putin has issued a rare apology to his Serbian counterpart Aleksandar Vucic for a senior Russian official's Facebook post which angered Mr Vucic.

Mr Vucic told Serbian TV about the apology and the Kremlin confirmed it.

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova posted a photo of Mr Vucic sitting opposite President Donald Trump in the White House and below it a photo of actress Sharon Stone's legs.
Ms Zakharova herself later apologised.

The provocative screenshot of the crossed legs came from the film Basic Instinct, in a scene where Sharon Stone's character briefly exposes herself.
Ms Zakharova's post said Mr Vucic looked as if he was being interrogated by President Trump.

"If you are invited to the White House but your chair stands like you are in an interrogation, you should sit like in the picture number 2. Whoever you are. Just trust me," Ms Zakharova wrote.

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Update #1: Putin apologises to Serbian leader over post by Russian ministry spokeswoman (Euronews)
Update #2: Russia and Serbia in ‘Basic Instinct’ row over US-brokered deal (SCMP/Reuters)
Update #3: Russian official ignites spat with Serbia over 'Basic Instinct' Facebook post (NBC)

WNU Editor: I think this is the first time that Russian President Putin has had to apologize for something that the foreign ministry has done. This again illustrates the dangers of posting something on social media without thinking about the repercussions. As for Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova who started this whole thing. She has been at this post for five years, and she should have known better. But Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov likes her, and her job is safe .... for now.

Update #4: LOL. She has not removed her Facebook post.

Serbian President Accuses Russia Of Spying On Serbia

RFE: Vucic Accuses Moscow Of Spying On Serbia, Says Ties Still Strong

Serbian security services have uncovered a large-scale intelligence operation between Russian spies and current and former members of the Serbian military, President Aleksandar Vucic said on November 21, but added that the scandal won't jeopardize friendship between Moscow and Belgrade.

Vucic spoke following a meeting of the National Security Council called after a video was made public on YouTube showing a man identified as Lieutenant Colonel Georgy Kleban, a former assistant military attache at Russia's embassy in Belgrade, handing money to a man in Belgrade.

Vucic said the man receiving the money was a retired Serbian Army officer, whom the president identified only as Z.K.

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WNU Editor: Russia's foreign ministry has responded .... Serbia spy video is a provocation, Russian foreign ministry says (Reuters).

More News On Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic Accusing Russia Of Spying On Serbia

Serbia's president accuses Russia of spying -- Reuters
Serbia's president confirms Russian spy operation after bribe video -- DW
Serbian president accuses Russia of spy plot involving army -- The Guardian
Belgrade orders probe into 'Russia-Serbia cash handover' video -- Euronews
Serbia Documented Russian Espionage Effort, President says -- Balkan Insight