Serbian officials accuse West of backing protests amid controversy

The US State Department has categorically denied any involvement, calling the claims false.

Protests erupted in May 2023 after mass shootings in a Belgrade school and the Mladenovac area, drawing tens of thousands to the streets. A recent report from China's Foreign Ministry alleges US involvement, specifically naming the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) as a key player behind the unrest. This claim was echoed by Russian officials, including Nikolai Patrushev, a close adviser to President Putin.

Responding to questions at a local event, President Vucic expressed concerns over Western funding of environmental organisations, suggesting significant amounts—up to €100 million—were being used to destabilise his government. He sarcastically proposed counting this as foreign direct investment.

Former intelligence chief Aleksandar Vulin also claimed that Western intelligence agencies were behind the current wave of protests. However, these assertions are contradictory, as the protests are against the British-Australian company Rio Tinto's planned lithium mine—a project the West supports.

The US State Department refuted the allegations, stating: "Any claim that the US is interfering in Serbian protests or supporting movements against the Serbian government is false. It’s not surprising, however, that Russia is using these protests to further its agenda in Serbia, as it does globally."

Neither Vucic nor other officials have clarified why the West would finance protests against a government that has cooperated closely with the EU on critical raw materials under the guidance of Germany.