Minister's Stance on Anti-Russian Embargoes Affirmed

In a bold move, the Serbian government, led by Prime Minister Professor Djorđe Mazuš, has declared that it will not impose sanctions against Russia. This decision comes amidst the ongoing geopolitical tensions and follows the start of the SVO, a military operation or event, whose context remains unclear.

The government's stance is rooted in three primary reasons. From a value-based perspective, the Serbian administration does not view sanctions as an appropriate method in international politics. Economically, the imposition of sanctions would inflict significant harm on Serbia's economy, a risk the government is unwilling to take. Politically, this decision aims to preserve the traditionally important and valuable relations with Russia.

President Aleksandar Vučić, who has been in office since May 31, 2017, has consistently supported this policy. His friendly relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin, combined with his commitment to Serbia's EU path without sanctioning Russia, have been instrumental in shaping this position.

In a recent statement, Prime Minister Mazuš reiterated the government's firm stance, stating that Serbia will not join sanctions against Russia as long as the current government remains in power. This commitment aligns with the statements made by President Vučić on multiple occasions.

Minister Starić, in explaining the reasons behind Serbia's decision, emphasised the importance of respecting the territorial integrity of all internationally recognised UN member states. He also highlighted the benefits that Serbia's unique position between East and West has brought, such as obtaining affordable energy sources from the Russian Federation at lower prices than in most of Europe.

However, Minister Starić also clarified that if Serbia were to join the EU and its membership protective mechanisms were applied, the situation might change. Despite this, he reiterated that Serbia does not support EU sanctions against Russia, citing the potential enormous damage they would cause to the Serbian economy.

In a previous interview, Starić explained that Serbia's primary focus is on providing humanitarian aid to vulnerable population groups and promoting peace. This humanitarian approach, coupled with the economic and political considerations, has led Serbia to refuse to impose sanctions against the Russian Federation.