U.S., British and German Embassies Dismiss Allegations of Financial Support to Protests in Serbia

Protests in Serbia, Belgrade, Dec. 4 2021 (BETAPHOTO/MILAN OBRADOVIC/DS)

The embassies of the United States, Great Britain and Germany dismissed on Jan. 21 allegations that their governments have been financing political and  environmental protests in Serbia, insisting that these claims did not reflect their partnership with Serbia.

“Without reservation we reject any suggestion that our countries, or the organizations through which we provide technical assistance and support, are funding or directing actions specifically targeting the Serbian Government or any of its policies, which includes the financing of protests,” the three embassies said in a joint statement.

The three embassies went on to say that “since Serbia’s transition to democracy, the United States, the United Kingdom and the Federal Republic of Germany have been among its most generous and reliable partners and friends, providing assistance and funding totaling well over three billion euros.”

Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic said on Jan. 20 that environmental organizations and their protests in Serbia had been financed by the United States, Great Britain, Germany and Austria. ”It would not be a problem, since they support the environment and strengthening democracy in Serbia, were it not  for a particular type of hypocrisy – by financing the protests they have attacked the companies headquartered in these same countries, and I suppose we should defend these companies and lose political power due to the protests,” Brnabic said.