The opposition condemns election fraud in Serbia, and Russia accuses the West of encouraging protest

Belgrade is witnessing difficult days of protests after the revolution Parliament elections Which gave victory to the populist Aleksandar Vucic. Thousands of Serbs gathered in Belgrade on Monday to demand the release of demonstrators who were arrested the day before in a march called to denounce fraud in the recent legislative and local elections in the Balkan country. Russiaa country that still enjoys Great effect In the small Balkan country, the West was accused of inciting and encouraging mobilization.

This is the eighth consecutive night of protests, which took place peacefully, unlike those that took place on Sunday, although they began by closing the streets of the capital. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said Sunday's unrest was planned and Russia accused Western powers of interference, suggesting it may be behind the outbreak of violence.

The December 17 elections gave victory to Vucic's party (Nationalist Right) with 46.7% of the votes, according to the Electoral Commission. But the opposition, which went to the polls united under the slogan “Serbia against violence” and obtained 23.5% of the votes, denounces a series of frauds.

Observers confirm the suspicions

A preliminary report by an international observer mission confirmed these suspicions and cited cases of “vote buying” and “ballot box stuffing” in several polling stations.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova accused, “It is clear that the West as a whole is trying to destabilize the situation in Serbia.” Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: “Attempts by third parties, including some from abroad, to cause problems in Belgrade are clear.” The European Union, especially Germany, described the accusations made by a country aspiring to join the European Union as “unacceptable.”