Russia declared for spying circle

Officials in the Kremlin said on Thursday that Russia's relations with Serbia could not be damaged by anything, despite Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic's ordering the investigation of reports of an alleged spying link, following posts on the social networks of a video census, where he sees a Russian intelligence service agent giving money to a Serbian security service official.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, questioned reporters on Thursday on the issue, said that “relations with Serbia are brotherly partnership. Nothing could hurt them”.

In Belgrade, the Serbian president hosted Ambassador Alexander Bocan Harchenko, but no details were given after the meeting, though the president's office said it was part of preparations for his visit to Moscow early next month.

Serbian authorities said more information could be given after the Security Council meeting, to be held in the evening hours.

On Wednesday, an official of Serbia's Information and Security Agency, known as BIA, said the video recording posted on November 17th on YouTube channel is authentic. There you see a Russian diplomat handing a bag to the Serbian agent in Belgrade, from which he pulled out a cash envelope. Serbian BIA official Rela Zhelski confirmed that Russian intelligence agent Georgiy Kleban is seen in the video, but did not provide any details to the suspected Serbian agent.

Russia Kleban was assistant military attaché to the Russian Embassy in Belgrade by June of this year.

Serbia remains Russia's ally, though it is aimed at membership in the European Union. Belgrade has pledged to stay outside NATO and has refused to join Western sanctions on Russia due to the conflict in Ukraine, writes VOA.

Serbs see Russia as their guardian, even because of its stance against Kosovo's independence declared in February 2008 with the support of the United States and the main countries of the European Union.