A Belgrade-based NGO, the Center for Social Stability, closely aligned with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic’s government, said that its activists have painted a mural depicting slain American right-wing activist Charlie Kirk.
It didn’t last more than 24 hours before it was defaced.
That’s Serbian political discourse for you: “Everyone I don’t like is NATO”. People who painted it don’t like NATO.
A public lighting of candles was held in Banja Luka, the capital of the Republika Srpska entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina, organized by the members of Alliance of Independent Social Democrats, Milorad Dodik’s party.
The moral of these stories is that governments, organizations, and individuals outside the US have come to the conclusion that it’s easy to win some favor from MAGA and its affiliates if you do some sucking up. Kirk did have fans here; the society in Serbia and Republika Srpska is rather alt-right, and the international alt-right is thick as thieves.
Does it pay off? Well, see for yourself.
The U.S. Treasury Department on Wednesday, October 29th, lifted sanctions from Bosnian Serb nationalist leader Milorad Dodik, his allies, and family members and companies related to them, the Office of Foreign Assets Control announced.
OFAC did not explain why it removed dozens of Dodik’s closest allies, including government ministers and his son and daughter, from the sanctions program. But Serb officials have indicated that they have been working quietly on establishing a more cooperative relationship with the U.S. while retaining friendly ties with ally Russia. (Reuters)
As for Serbia, Richard Grenell, US President Donald Trump’s envoy for special missions, had this to say about Serbian protests back in January in an X post:
“It is always important to raise your voice and to be heard. But everyone must condemn violence and stick to peaceful demonstrations. The democratic process must be respected. We do not support those who undermine the rule of law or who forcefully take over government buildings. If you don’t like a law or a leader then work to change it – but don’t resort to violence.“
Grenell was strongly criticized over his statement by Borko Stefanovic, the deputy leader of Serbia’s opposition Freedom and Justice Party (SSP).
Grenell has also made ridiculous allegations against the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY), which deals with war crimes cases committed during the Yugoslav Wars.
Never mind the fact that his X post is about the supposed unfair treatment of Hashim Thaci, a Kosovo Albanian leader, which makes him an arch-nemesis of any Serbian nationalist. All ethnocentric tribes of the former Yugoslavia hate the Tribunal with a burning passion, so they would rather see no war criminals convicted, even if it gets their (former) enemies off the hook.
The outside world is very much aware of the ferocity of the American domestic culture wars and will use them for its own goals.
Serbianism 