Serbia and Russia – two states one ruler, a match between two clubs and a signed agreement

The decision of the main international sports institutions to exclude Russian athletes from all competitions because of the war that started in Ukraine does not apply to Serbia, as it applies to most countries that imposed sanctions on Russian athletes immediately after the start of the war.

While the unprovoked Russian aggression in Ukraine entered its fifth month, a friendly football match between Russia and Serbia, i.e. between “Zenit” and “Crvena zvezda” in the stadium of Sochi (Russia) was played in front of 30,000 spectators.

Patriotic messages have not been absent from the stands of the Sochi stadium, one of the striking ones read “Serbian and Russian brothers forever” which was written on a flag several meters high with a white-headed eagle.

Likewise, the signing of the contract before the match proves that Serbia has a connection with Russia also through sports. The general director of “Zenit” Aleksandar Medvedev said that the contract includes cooperation at all levels.

He described the act of signing the contract as a clear indication of friendship between the Serbian and Russian people.

“This shows that our relations are brotherly and we all know that sport is a very important segment of society,” Medvedev said.

Everything indicates that this match is just another move by Russia to prove that it has a place in the Balkans through which it can continue to exert its malign influence on other countries. Another sign and indicator for the countries of the Western Balkans is that Serbia with Vucic at the head does not take any decision alone but in agreement with Moscow, i.e. Putin.

Vucic has spoken many times about the many pressures to impose sanctions on Russia, but he has always stated that he is not doing this because he is protecting Serbia’s interests. Official Belgrade has so far supported several UN resolutions opposing the Russian invasion, but some protests in support of Russia have also been held in Belgrade.

Also, he says that Serbia is absolutely for the European Union, that the European path is the only one Serbia is on, that Serbia is militarily neutral, but… There is always a “but”. And it was like that for ten years.

While the whole world turned away from Russia and China, Serbia strengthened not only economic, but also military cooperation with Moscow and Beijing. Serbia has become completely dependent on Russian gas and Russia is now a sanctioned aggressor by everyone in Europe except Serbia. Much of what Vucic has done in politics is the result of consultations with Moscow.