As part of the program Regional Initiative for combating disinformation “Western Balkans Combatting disinformation Center: Exposing malicious influences through fact-checking and Analytical Journalism“, we present you a new analysis of fake news and disinformation narratives.
Opening of the Russian historical society in Serbia: Confirmation of brotherhood ties and an important political message
https://lat.rt.rs/srbija-i-balkan/161199-otvoreno-rusko-istorijsko-drustvo-u-srbiji/
Russian influence in Serbia is to some extent based on the historical, religious, and cultural ties between the two countries and peoples—or, more precisely, on a particular perception of the importance of these ties within parts of Serbian society. Therefore, key channels of Russian influence include its media presence and cooperation or engagement with cultural, academic, and religious institutions in Serbia.
In this regard, the establishment of a branch of the Russian Historical Society (RHS) in Serbia is significant. The RHS is officially an institution devoted to preserving Russia’s historical heritage and promoting Russian history, and it is headed by none other than the director of the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service, Sergey Naryshkin. The newly opened branch in Belgrade is the first one outside the so-called post-Soviet space.
At the end of October, the founding assembly of the Russian Historical Society in Serbia was held. Domestic media reported intensively on the event, while the Serbian service of the Russian state outlet—RT Balkan—published a telling article under the tendentious headline: “The Russian Historical Society Opens in Serbia: Confirmation of Brotherhood Ties and an Important Political Message.”
RT relayed the statements made by speakers at the assembly, beginning with a video address by the RHS president and head of Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service, Sergey Naryshkin. He emphasized examples of historical links between the two nations, while simultaneously promoting strong anti-Western narratives. Naryshkin stated that “the NATO bloc ignited a civil war in the Balkans and then, in violation of international law, carried out real aggression against Serbia, committing genuine war crimes… Russia responded to this,” adding that “today, the Republic of Serbia is under incredible pressure from Brussels… the truth is that the Serbian people remain spiritually close to us… this is valued and respected in Russia; we respect the independent course pursued by Belgrade.” The Russian ambassador to Serbia, Alexander Botsan-Kharchenko, also remarked that “the opening of the Russian Historical Society in Serbia represents an important political and scholarly message.”
The assembly confirmed the first president of RHS in Serbia—former head of the Security Intelligence Agency and former Minister of Defense and Interior, Aleksandar Vulin—who is under U.S. sanctions for alleged involvement in transnational organized crime, abuse of public office, and enabling “Russian malign activities that undermine stability in the Western Balkans.” At the founding session, Vulin emphasized that “we believe in the need to create a strong, united, and brotherly relationship between two great, historically the greatest Orthodox nations… history teaches us that where there are Serbs and Russians, there is justice… in the Russian Historical Society, our first task will be to fight for the preservation of historical truth about the Serbian and Russian peoples.”
Among the attendees at the RHS assembly in Belgrade was also the Patriarch of the Serbian Orthodox Church, Porfirije, who met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow several months ago. During that visit, the Patriarch referred to the largest protests in Serbia’s recent history as a “color revolution.” Another participant, historian Aleksandar Raković, recently came into public focus when, at the Valdai Forum, he asked President Putin a question about the alleged “color revolution” in Serbia, said to be externally organized—again echoing anti-Western narratives. Raković, one of the founders of the Belgrade branch of the Russian Historical Society, stressed that “Serbia is under pressure to impose sanctions on Russia, but that will not happen,” according to RT Balkan.
The establishment of the Russian Historical Society in Serbia comes at a time when political relations between the two countries are becoming increasingly complicated, while their energy partnership is increasingly called into question. At the same time, the founding of RHS represents a continuation of Russia’s strong presence and influence within segments of Serbian society and institutions.
Author: Igor Mirosavljević
