Jeremic: Russia supports Serbia, but not current authorities

Jeremic: Russia supports Serbia, but not current authorities

Jeremic told the srbin.info website that Russian President Vladimir Putin "does not trust Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic because of his relations with the West."

At the same time, he estimated that "precisely the West, that is, international actors, would influence the change of the ruling structure, as they have done before in the Balkans."

"In these regions, establishment and change of power has never in history happened completely in isolation from the foreign factor. The combined strength of internal and external pressure will also change these corrupt authorities," said Jeremic.

He reiterated his accusations that the Serbian president would "sign an agreement with Pristina, attempt to disenfranchise the Serb Republic within Bosnia-Herzegovina, and then integrate Serbia into NATO."

"15th meeting"

Vladimir Putin's opinion of Aleksandar Vucic is best seen in the fact he is about to meet him for the 15th time, in order to exchange views on important issues for our country.

Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Nebojsa Stefanovic said this on Tuesday, in a prompt reaction to Jeremic's words.

Stefanovic, who is also an official of the ruling SNS, thus rejected Jeremic's claims, and reminded him that it was precisely the government he was a part of that excluded Russia from the process of resolving the issue of Kosovo and Metohija.

Stefanovic recalled in a statement for Tanjug that this Serbia did not impose sanctions on Russia, despite the heavy pressure.

What is worrying, Stefanovic said, are not Jeremic's unfounded claims, but his announcement of the meddling of the external factor in changing the people's will in Serbia.

Therefore, he continued, it would be good if Jeremic were to reveal which foreign powers he's counting on to bring him back to office.

"Obviously, it bothers everybody that Aleksandar Vucic is conducting a policy of an independent and sovereign Serbia," Stefanovic said.