Vuciq accuses Moscow of spying, says there is more evidence for Russian spies

Serbian intelligence agencies have uncovered a wide operation involving Russian spies and members of the Serbian Army.

Thus, as Reuters writes, Telegrafi conveys, Serbia's president, Aleksandar Vuciq, has said during a conference Thursday.

But according to this medium, Vuciqi's statements came after a meeting of the National Security Council, which he collected after a video showing that a Russian intelligence officer was giving money to a Serbian man in Belgrade was released on YouTube over the weekend.

The video, which was not made by Serbian agents, showed a man identified as Georgy Kleban, former military aid at Russia's embassy in Belgrade, meeting a retired Serbian officer, whom Vuciq identified only as Mr.K.

Vuciq further said the meeting took place last December, but did not say who made the video.

Serbian agents who followed Mr. K. They couldn't do oversight of Kleban and his Serbian source “, except from a distance of” as the Russian officer had his defence details. But they were more successful in other cases, Vuciq said.

“On several occasions, Serbian security agencies collected audio and video contact tests between Lt. Col. Kleban and members of the Serbian Army” were quoted as saying Vuciq at a news conference.

And as Reuters estimates, the incident has potential for “hartim” of relations between Serbia and Russia, who are old allies.

The two countries have strong political, military, cultural and economic ties. Moscow supports Belgrade in refusing to recognise Kosovo's sovereignty”, Reuters points out.

The media in question writes away that Vuciq said Serbian agents also had evidence concerning other Russian spies. There were 10 contacts with three sources “, he said.

He also accused military representatives of several Western countries who, according to him, were spying on Serbia.

But Vuciq said the spy scandal should not hurt relations between Serbia and Russia, adding that he was sure that “president (Vladimir) Putin was not informed about this”.

“We will not change our policy towards Russia, which we see as a brotherly and friendly country ... but we will strengthen our intelligence defenses. There was only one thing I asked the Russian ambassador today I just asked him why?

Otherwise, Vuciq is scheduled to travel to Moscow on 4 December to meet Putin for their third meeting this year.

Meanwhile in Moscow, Maria Zakharova, a spokesperson for Russia's Foreign Ministry, said at a conference that images should be considered as “a provocation” designed to create “a certain impression”.

While Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said he was sure nothing could harm relations between Russia and Serbia.

Reuters writes that Serbia depends on Russian oil and gas and wants to join the TurkishStream gas pipeline that would bypass Ukraine and transport Russian gas to European markets.

Besides Vuciq has also said that Serbia will not change its doctrine of military neutrality and will not join NATO, nor will the Russian-controlled Kolec Security Treaty Organisation.