Russia is increasing number of diplomats in Serbia

The diplomatic list of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs shows that two other Russian diplomats have arrived in Serbia during March.

At the beginning of March, Russia's mission to Serbia had 62 diplomats, meanwhile on 31 March, were 64.

In early March, Radio Free Europe (REL) reported that Russia, a year after the invasion of Ukraine, had increased its diplomatic presence in Serbia following the wave of expulsions of diplomats from the EU last year.

With new arrivals in March, the number of Russian diplomats in Serbia since February last year has scored ten more.

The investigation, in early March, also showed that at least three expelled diplomats are currently accredited Russian representatives in Serbia, including two related to Russian intelligence services.

According to the latest list published by the Foreign Ministry, from March 31st, they are still present at the Russian mission in Belgrade.

Serbia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not answer REL's question about the new establishment of the number of diplomats.

Neither the Government of Serbia nor the Russian Embassy in Serbia have answered questions.
Nikola Lulunic, former Serbian military diplomat who currently heads the Belgrade-based non-governmental Strategic Policy Council, said in a statement to Radio Free Europe that ignoring the number of Russian diplomats would certainly cause distrust in countries in the region and in Europe.

However, it will also increase the risk of security, which Serbia does not need at this moment”, Lloyd added.

Two new ones

During the month of March, as seen by diplomatic lists identified by Serbia, two new attachés at the Russian Embassy -- Vladimir Surov and Roman Shelkovskiy -- have been accredited.

The Russian Embassy and authorities in Serbia did not answer the REL's question about Surov and Shelkovskiy's previous jobs.

From immediate public data, Vladimir Surov can be seen as part of Russia's permanent mission to the United Nations in 2006 and 2009.

Surov's name was also on the list of the Russian mission to Copenhagen in 2015.
Roman Shelkovskiy's name was listed on Italy's diplomatic list in 2021, but in March 2022 it was no longer there.

In April 2022, Italy expelled 30 Russian diplomats because of the invasion of Ukraine. Exactly when Shelkovski left Italy or its location before he arrived in Serbia is unknown.

Diplification of Diaries

After the Russian invasion of Ukraine, in February 2022, hundreds of Russian diplomats were expelled from European countries or entered into the <x0bolist black”.

As a reason for the expulsion, some countries cited supposed spying.

Radio Free Europe has confirmed earlier that at least one expelled Russian diplomat, linked to the Federal Security Service unit (FSB) and charged with cyber attacks targeting the American energy sector, has been sent to Belgrade, while another is linked to the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service.

Several countries expelled Russian diplomats even before the invasion of Ukraine.
In March 2018, the United Kingdom expelled 23 Russian diplomats in response to the attack by nervous agents against former Russian agent Sergei Scripal.

The prime minister of the time, Theresa May, told Russian diplomats expelled from the country that they were spies acting under diplomatic protection.

Yulia Scripal and her father, Sergei, a former Russian and British agent, were in critical condition for several weeks after being poisoned with nervous agent Novichok in March 2018.

Russian diplomats were, in some cases, also expelled from the United States.

Nikola Lulunic explains that, in line with obligations from the Vienna Convention, Serbia is not obliged to accept Russian diplomats expelled from the West.

The competent ministry can at any time and without obligation to explain, inform the Russian mission that a certain member of the diplomatic mission is unacceptable, so undesirable”, says Luniquk.

“The lack of reaction could easily be interpreted in the West as diplomatic and intelligent support from Belgrade for Russian hybrid activities in the region”, Llyunic points out in a written response to Radio Free Europe.

Sanctions, energy addiction, spying relatives

Serbia aspires to join the European Union, while authorities try to maintain good relations with Russia.

Official Belgrade refuses to impose sanctions on Russia, despite numerous Western officials' requests.

The official Kremlin supports Serbia in blocking Kosovo's membership in international institutions. Meanwhile, Serbia is still dependent on Russian gas.

In his comment to the REL, Nikola Lulunic also estimates that if Russia improves its intelligence skills in the diplomatic mission in Belgrade, this will distance Serbia from the EU as well as from NATO, in which Serbia does not aspire to membership for the time being.

We should not be surprised if they use all the means to achieve their (ruse)”, Lulunic added.

He, as well, said that for Serbian security services, the priority should be for diplomatic missions of all countries in Belgrade to be secure.

The Russian Embassy in Belgrade has already been involved in a spying link.

In November 2019, Serbia's government announced that it had uncovered a network of Russian spying connected to the embassy, which prompted Serbia's president, Aleksandar Vuciq, to call the Russian ambassador to negotiate.

Vuciq, however, later downplayed the intensity of the incident.

Addressing the media at the time, he said Serbia would not change its policy towards Russia and that it views it as a friendly country.

Vuciq later said that authorities in Serbia will develop “and maintain the country in terms of intelligence.