BELGRADE, Serbia — President Aleksandar Vu?i? remarked on Tuesday that foreign intelligence agencies are attempting to remove him from power amid escalating protests across Serbia. He confidently stated that he has no plans to flee the country, unlike the Syrian leader Bashar Assad, who retreated to Moscow during a significant coup attempt.
Uploading a video message on Instagram, Vu?i? asserted, “I will fight for Serbia and serve only my Serbian people and all other citizens of Serbia; I will never serve foreigners who aim to defeat, humiliate, and destroy our nation.” He emphasized his commitment to the country amid increasing tensions over anti-government demonstrations.
Critics of Vu?i? have drawn parallels between him and Assad, predicting that he might consider fleeing if he starts losing his tight hold on authority, especially following intense protests ignited by a tragic roof collapse at a railway station in Novi Sad, which resulted in the deaths of 15 individuals on November 1. These protests have fanned out to cities like Belgrade and others, with demonstrators blaming this disaster on widespread corruption contributing to negligent construction practices connected to a broader agreement with Chinese state companies involved in various infrastructure projects in Serbia.
The station’s tragic collapse has emerged as a symbol of the public’s discontent with Vu?i?’s increasingly authoritarian governance, igniting calls for democratic reforms within the nation. In his recording, Vu?i? accused the growing protests—now also incorporating university students—of being funded by Western entities with the intent of toppling his administration through various disruptive tactics aimed at destabilizing the country.
“If they believe I’m Assad and will escape, they are mistaken,” Vu?i? stated firmly. He went on to promise that in the coming days and weeks, he would disclose comprehensively how much money has been spent over recent years to compromise Serbia’s sovereignty and turn it into a subordinate state that doesn’t make its own choices or determine its future but instead caters to external demands.
The Balkan country is officially pursuing membership in the European Union while simultaneously nurturing close relations with both Russia and China. Vu?i? maintains a stance of political neutrality and has consistently pledged never to align Serbia with Western sanctions against Russia following its military actions in Ukraine.
In a potential move that could further hinder Serbia’s EU aspirations, lawmakers in the national parliament have started discussions on a proposed bill to create a “foreign agents” registry, mirroring a similar law enacted in Russia. This legislation aims to regulate entities and individuals that receive more than half of their funding from outside the country. Critics, both domestically and internationally, have cautioned that such a law could cast a negative light on civil society organizations, impede their functionality, and restrict freedom of speech.
