Who are the pro-russian figures at the top of the serbian government?

The dismissal of Marko Parezanović from the position of head of the BIA, which media outlets are reporting but has not been officially confirmed, is interpreted by some members of the public as a purge of pro-Russian officials in the senior government.

This interpretation brings back into focus the question of who the members of the ruling elite are that are publicly labeled as Russian sympathizers.

It is considered that there are not many openly pro-Russian members in the government of Đur Matsut, but there are enough to prevent the broader electorate from perceiving it as a government fully oriented toward the West.

The focus on Moscow is particularly evident due to the crisis caused by U.S. sanctions on the Serbian oil industry, which is majority-owned by Russians—a situation that could deepen and develop further.

Key pro-Russian figures in the Serbian government:

Ivica Dačić – One of the most prominent pro-Russian figures in the government, with a long history of diplomatic and economic ties to Moscow.

Nenad Popović – Minister without portfolio responsible for international economic cooperation and relations with the Orthodox Church. He was awarded the Order of Friendship by President Vladimir Putin in 2010. Popović has participated in joint investments with the Russian state and was placed under U.S. sanctions at the end of 2023 due to his economic and political links with Russia.

Dušan Bajatović – Director of Srbijagas and a key figure in Russian influence over the Serbian oil industry. He was appointed honorary consul for Vojvodina by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and participates in the Working Group for Monitoring U.S. Sanctions on NIS.

Aleksandar Vulin – Former Deputy Prime Minister, former Minister of Police and Defense, and former head of the BIA. Decorated by Russian authorities with the Order of Friendship and an FSB award for “exceptional cooperation” between Serbian and Russian security services. He was included in the U.S. sanctions list in July 2023 for corruption, alleged involvement in drug trafficking, and ties to Russia.

Milica Đurđević Stamenkovski – Minister of Labor, Employment, Veterans, and Social Affairs. Known for her support of Russia and Serbia’s policy of not imposing sanctions against Moscow. According to polls, over 80% of Serbian citizens oppose sanctions on Russia, reflecting public sentiment regarding the importance of Serbian-Russian friendship. She previously emphasized that Serbia would remain committed to this principle, being the only country in Europe following such a policy.

The position of Prime Minister Matsut remains unclear, as he is suspected of having attempted to organize a visit to Russian President Vladimir Putin, which was refused. Subsequently, Russian media reported on a cabinet reshuffle involving Milosh Andjić, former chief of staff, who was considered a close collaborator of Aleksandar Vulin.

In both the current and previous governments, the most publicly prominent pro-Russian figures remain Ivica Dačić and Nenad Popović.

Popović has a long history of strong relations with Russia. He was awarded the Order of Friendship by Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2010 for his special contribution to the development and strengthening of economic and social ties between Serbia and Russia. He also holds several honors from the Russian Orthodox Church.

His party, the Serbian People’s Party (SNP), is consistently aligned with the SNS list. Popović is considered “the Russian man” in government; he became Minister for Innovation and Technological Development in 2017, with companies closely cooperating with the Russian state. Due to these ties, Popović and several of his companies were sanctioned by the U.S. at the end of 2023. According to the U.S. Treasury, since the 1990s, Popović has used his business in Russia to cultivate allies among Kremlin politicians and expand his wealth through acquisitions and tax schemes.

Dušan Bajatović, deputy of SPS and director of Srbijagas, is also considered an important factor of Russian influence in Serbia. In late September of this year, he was appointed honorary consul for Vojvodina by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Bajatović is a member of the Working Group for Monitoring U.S. Sanctions on the Serbian Oil Industry (NIS), which aims to propose “the best solutions in the interest of the Republic of Serbia.” He has been a member of parliament since 2007.

Among the closest to Russia in this competition is still Aleksandar Vulin, former Deputy Prime Minister, former Minister of Police and Defense, and former head of the BIA. Vulin was honored by Russian authorities with two awards within two days: the Order of Friendship from President Vladimir Putin and an FSB award for “professionalism and exceptional contribution to cooperation between Serbian and Russian services.” In December 2021, he traveled to Moscow to meet with then-Secretary of the Russian Security Council Nikolai Patrushev and discussed, among other topics, “color revolutions,” referring to alleged plans by the “center of power” to undermine sovereignty through protests.

Vulin has previously criticized the West for its cooperation with Russia and was placed on the U.S. sanctions list in July 2023 for corruption, alleged drug trafficking involvement, and ties to Russia.

Milica Đurđević Stamenkovski, Minister of Labor, Employment, Veterans, and Social Affairs, is also recognized as close to Moscow and sympathetic toward Russia. She previously told Juron News that Serbia is committed to maintaining relations with the Russian Federation. According to public opinion polls, more than 80% of Serbian citizens oppose imposing sanctions on Russia, clearly reflecting the public stance on the importance of Serbian-Russian friendship.

Đurđević Stamenkovski previously emphasized that Serbia would not impose sanctions on Russia, remaining the only European country to follow such a policy. According to CINS, she falsely claimed in her official biography that she graduated from the Faculty of Political Sciences; she actually graduated from the Russian Institute for Diaspora and Integration, reports DANAS.