Nikitin: Serbia expelling Russian citizen for taking part in antiwar protests

In a statement forwarded to the media, Nikitin said the reason for this is the assessment of the Security Intelligence Agency (BIA) that Elena, who is a literary translator, is an “unacceptable security risk.”

Under the Serbian Law on Foreigners, an unacceptable security-related risk exists if available data and knowledge indicate that a foreigner advocates, encourages, aids, prepares or undertakes activities threatening the constitutional order and security of the Serbia, assets protected by international law and national, regional and global security issues of importance for Serbia and its legal system, said Nikitin, citing Article 9 of the said Law.

According to Nikitin, Koposova and 25 other Russians living in Serbia publicly signed on March 5, 2022 an open address by members of the Russian diaspora regarding the war in Ukraine, calling for a rally against the war and dictatorship, which was held in Belgrade on March 6. Apart from that, she has never been involved in activism or politics, said Nikitin.

This is perhaps the most shocking of all cases of persecution of antiwar Russians in Serbia, which can have tragic consequences for an ordinary family, just because a person dared to publicly declare against the bombing of peaceful cities and killing of people, said Nikitin, adding that Koposova will appeal against the decision.