Illiberal political movements in Europe, associated with their ideological allies from Russia, China, and the Global South, cannot be countered by the committees of overthinking everything in existence that are the staple of European mainstream politics, that is doing itself a disservice by getting dragged into foreign cultural conflicts and upholding foreign values that go against rationalism and the Enlightenment.
Category: Russia
Croatian JANAF pipeline stands to lose up to 18 million Euros after Serbian NIS hit with sanctions
The American sanctions on Serbia's Oil Industry might lead to significant financial losses for Croatia's Adriatic Pipeline (JANAF). Croatia put forward a feeler to acquire control over Serbia's Oil Industry (NIS) to stabilize JANAF's operations, sparking political banter between Croatian and Serbian leaders, which reflects old Balkan rivalries and energy independence goals.
Retro review: Syrian Warfare – a real-time tactics from Russia with hate
Squad 22: ZOV, a Russian strategy game, doesn't hide the fact that it's Russian militarist propaganda. But before that, there was Syrian Warfare, a Russian-developed pro-Assad agitprop released in 2017, masquerading as a genuinely good real-time tactics game. Not sure why I wrote this review, but here it is.
Vladimir Putin decided to put in a good word for Serbian Gen Z protests
After eleven months of protests in Serbia, Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed understanding for the student and civic activists, calling them patriots deserving of dialogue. He criticized Western interference, asserting that Serbia’s struggles are an internal matter. The protests coincide with the anniversary of the fall of Milošević, highlighting deep-rooted nationalist myths.
Let them eat BRICS
Dragan Djilas of Serbia's Freedom and Justice Party emphasized the need for a strong European message to the Western Balkans, advocating for elections in candidate countries to amplify their voices in the EU. Meanwhile, sentiments against EU inclusion rise, with leaders like Aleksandar Vulin promoting "sovereignty" and alternative alliances like BRICS over EU membership.
Nedeljnik: Gazprom exited ownership in NIS, another company from the Gazprom group now has 11.3 percent of the capital
The St. Petersburg firm "Intelligence" acquired 11.3 percent of Naftna industrija Srbije's shares, previously owned by Gazprom, without compensation. This change comes amid NIS's repeated requests for exemptions from US sanctions. The largest shareholder remains Gazprom Neft, while Serbia's potential interest in buying NIS faces financial constraints.
Serbian pro-EU opposition parties and netizens scold the Russian ambassador
Unlike the student protester front that doesn't want to offend Russia, some parts of the society in Serbia, including notable opposition parties, are not amused by the constant interference of the Russian government in Serbian affairs, especially the vocal support for the Serbian government expressed by the Russian ambassador Aleksandr Botsan-Kharchenko.
All pumped out and nowhere to go
With the Russian government coming in open vocal support of their Serbian counterparts, through the mouth of the Russian ambassador in Serbia, it is worth noting that one of the reasons for the failure of Serbian student and civic protests is the protesters' desire to keep the BRICS-dominated economy in Serbia after the removal of SNS from power, and keep Serbia out of EU.
Dances with ruins
Foreign commentators like Rachel Maddow and Timothy Snyder, just to name a few, who come in support of the supposed anti-authoritarian, anti-corruption protests in Serbia are not doing us any favors by basing their opinions on wishful thinking and second-hand information.
Weep for me, said the Tu-95 bomber
There's a Serbian joke about how the Serbian ship of lunatics is the pride and joy of the Russian Navy. Whether it's the news about arms sales to Ukraine, the purchase of the French Rafale jets, or the recent visit of president Vucic to Odessa, there is always speculation about Serbia's possible departure from the orbit of Russia and China.