Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has leveled serious accusations against Germany, reiterating claims previously made in Serbian media regarding alleged external support for protests against his government. In an interview with the Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung (FAS), Vucic asserted that these protests are being financially supported and funded by Germany.
When questioned about his consistent statements regarding possessing evidence of this support, yet failing to present it, Vucic explained he still holds this evidence but prefers to avoid presenting it to prevent straining relations between the two countries. He maintains that German political foundations operating in Serbia are providing funding to organizations that pay individuals to participate in demonstrations. He clarified that he does not believe the protests are entirely orchestrated from abroad, but that external entities are providing substantial financial resources.
Regarding specific claims appearing in a report from a Serbian think tank, suggesting the German Federal Intelligence Service (BND) is training Serbian students to organize protests, Vucic denied this assertion, while raising concerns about the backgrounds of protest leaders. He stated he does not have evidence of BND involvement but noted that leading protestors have previously received scholarships and financial support from the German state.
Vucic also strongly refuted allegations that the Serbian police utilized a sound cannon against protestors in March. He characterized these claims as false and cited an investigation conducted by the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) which purportedly confirmed the device was not deployed. Addressing potential skepticism regarding the reliability of Russian intelligence agencies, Vucic pointed out that the same entities have recently issued sharp criticisms of Serbia. Despite this, he affirmed Serbia’s ongoing efforts to maintain positive relations with Russia, a commitment he stated would continue in the future.