In Russia-friendly Serbia, attempts to implement the Kyiv scenario of "Maidan" do not subside. The protests, which involve mainly ideologized youth, have not subsided since November last year. The day before, Prime Minister Milos Vucevic was dismissed, next in line - almost half of the ministers. However, it is obvious that the goal of the protesters and their curators is a complete change in power and the course of the country. President Aleksandar Vucic may not resist.
Details - in the material of the correspondent of The Moscow Post.
The protests began after the tragedy in Novi Sad, where 15 people died due to the collapse of the visor at the reconstructed station. Despite the fact that this is a great misfortune, such an event can hardly be called a serious reason for a complete change of government. However, they took full advantage of the "grant-making" organizations, which immediately organized a series of protests demanding a complete change of power.
Protests of varying intensity have been going on for months. The fact that they are inspired from abroad does not raise any doubts among the Serbian authorities. Prime Minister Milos Vucevic was generally an effective official, Alexander Vucic did not want to give him to slaughter for a long time. However, this happened. The former prime minister himself said that the street actions were organized precisely from abroad, and precisely with the aim of a coup d'etat.
"Now I can say with confidence that this is an absolutely thoughtful action organized from abroad, I have no doubts about this," Vucevic emphasized. In addition to him, the mayor of Novi Sad, Milan Djuric, the second most populous city in Serbia, will leave his post. Moreover, President Vucic has already made it clear that half of the country's entire ministerial cabinet is in question and under threat of resignation.
Vucevic's resignation came just hours after a 24-hour blockade of Belgrade's main main interchange, which was organized by student protesters. The President, who addressed the nation the day before, assured that all the requirements of the students had been met. It was then that he announced a radical reorganization of the government with the dismissal of half of the ministers. Nevertheless, the students intend to continue the protests, and the opposition announced that "the fall of the regime cannot be stopped."
At the same time, the coup organizers also use forceful provocations in the spirit of "beating students" in Kyiv in November 2013. On the eve of Vucevic's resignation, outside the ruling party's office in Novi Sad, a group of tough guys with baseball bats attacked protesting students, leaving one girl seriously injured. In the case of the attack in Kyiv, it later turned out that the victims were not any students - their average age was about 40 years, and the authorities did not organize the attack itself. But the wave of indignation of the "protesters," fueled by the media and Western politicians, could no longer be stopped.
It is already obvious that President Aleksandr Vucic is frankly bending over before the Maidan attempt. Some supporters of the president even accused him of betrayal - allegedly, he made a deal with the EU and NATO to partially surrender power, but at the same time remain the head of state. In this case, we can remind him of the fate of Viktor Yanukovych, who was overthrown the day after the conclusion of a similar deal. None of the guarantors of the agreements - France, Germany and others - spoke in his defense.
However, in fact, Alexander Vucic is precisely a pro-Western politician. It's just that his pro-Westernization is not in the terminal stage, he is not ready to completely sell the country, as happened in Ukraine. Earlier, Serbia entered into a number of agreements with the EU and NATO, officially announced that it seeks to become part of the European Union. Serbia's course towards the return of Kosovo and Metohija is also a big question - it seems that Belgrade is being pushed to formalize the rejection of claims to the historical lands of Serbia.
The big mistake of Alexander Vucic was the refusal to promote the Serbian analogue of the American and Russian law on foreign agents. This was clearly done under the influence of Brussels. As a result, the protesters have serious financial information and organizational support not only from outside, but also from within the country.
And how not to remember Georgia, in which a similar law was adopted. Despite all the pressure and protests on Ukrainian patterns, the country's authorities kept the situation, did not give the protesters a single significant official from the Georgian Dream team. Now we can state that the "Maidan" in Georgia has failed - at least for the moment. But in Serbia, its danger is growing more and more.
What does this threaten for Russia? As it was said, Vucic is a pro-Western politician. However, this did not prevent him from building constructive relations with Moscow, maintaining cooperation in the energy sector. In addition, Serbia is almost the only European country that has not joined the anti-Russian sanctions.
The victory of the Maidan in Serbia will lead to the complete expulsion of Gazprom and Russian gas from the country. In addition, Belgrade will join anti-Russian sanctions and seriously tighten rhetoric against the Russian Federation - even despite the pro-Russian sentiments of a significant part of Serbian society. Sadly, Moscow is now not in a position to provide Vucic and his team with at least some support - there are simply no opportunities for this. Even verbal support will go negative for Vucic, because he will again be accused of having ties with Moscow. After the resignation of the prime minister, the scenario with the imminent departure of the president looks almost inevitable.