"America's goal is to separate Serbia from Russia"

"America's goal is to separate Serbia from Russia"

According to him, "this course is taking place with much difficulty because of the historical, cultural and collective memory gene, and to some extent due to the common mentality of Russian and Serbian peoples that prevents a sudden interruption in relations between Belgrade and Moscow."

Speaking about Sunday's elections in Serbia, he said that the results suggest possible divisions, "or a kaleidoscope of attitudes because of which a common position will not always be possible."

"Nearly 50 percent of registered voters did not vote, and the people who will sit in the assembly and form a government have no right to ignore this huge number," said the Russian official, who led a team of Russian observers.

He said that these elections were "a sort of a marriage market" for potential future leaders of Serbia.

"They showed their right to be leaders, to hold high offices, and used the results achieved by their parties and coalitions to demonstrate their personal qualities and aspirations, and most importantly, the ability, cynical as it may sound, to listen to the capitals of several Western countries which are very active in Serbia, and worked in the process of preparing these elections," said Likhachev.

In this regard, he thinks Russia should monitor "very carefully and comprehensively its work with Serbia, and in Serbia".

Commenting on the accusations of election fraud and irregularities coming from opposition parties, Likhachev said that elections in any country always include this topic because "parties that lose have to save face in front of their voters and retain the influence over the people who trust them."

They must also send a signal to the authorities, said the Russian official.

He also noted that the political environment in Serbia is very competitive and that "not a single vote is won without a fight."