Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic called on Russia to stop recruiting Serbs for the war in Ukraine as part of the Wagner Private Military Company (PMC). He criticized Russian websites and social networks pages, where calls to join the Wagnerites are published in Serbian, Reuters reports citing his statement on television.
“Why do you, from Wagner, call anyone from Serbia when you know that it is against our regulations?” Vucic said.
The Serbian leader denied that the Wagner group has a presence on the territory of his country.
Serbia is a candidate to join the EU, its main trading partner and investor, but it is also a traditional ally of Russia.
Although Belgrade repeatedly condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine at the United Nations and several other international forums, it has also refused to impose sanctions against Moscow.
Last week, US State Department Advisor Derek Chollet expressed concern about the activities of the Russian PMC Wagner and its attempts to recruit mercenaries in Serbia and other countries.