Chollet Conveys U.S. Concern Over Wagner Group Activity in Serbia

Derek Chollet (Photo: PrintScreen YouTube)

In his meetings with Serbia’s leadership, U.S. State Department Counselor Derek Chollet conveyed his country’s worries over the recruitment efforts Russia’s paramilitary Wagner Group has been making in Serbia and added that the U.S. expects all such activities will be put to a stop. 

“We’ve seen that the Wagner Group is attempting to recruit soldiers from Serbia and other countries [and] believe this should not continue. I know there is concern here over that. We have expressed our own concerns. I’m looking forward to cooperating with the government in Belgrade – as we have been doing with other countries – on putting a stop to such activity,” Chollet said in a Jan. 12 evening press conference held in Belgrade following his individual meetings with President Aleksandar Vucic, Prime Minister Ana Brnabic and Foreign Affairs Minister Ivica Dacic. 

Last week, Russia’s state-run media house Russia Today (RT) – which launched its Serbian-language platform RT Balkans in November – published a Wagner Group advertisement calling for volunteer soldiers for the war in Ukraine. 

Serbian law prohibits the country’s citizens from participating in armed conflicts abroad. Penalties are prescribed not only for individuals or groups travelling to foreign fronts but also for those recruiting volunteers or even “inciting” such activity. 

During his visit to the Serbian capital, Chollet also reiterated the U.S.’s stance that all countries should join the sanctions on Russia “because Russia’s actions [in Ukraine] must not only be condemned but also punished.” “Day-in, day-out, Russia is leading a brutal, unjustified war against Ukraine and we need to stand together. Russia’s actions are unacceptable,” Chollet concluded.