[80030] Serbia denies intentions to cancel visa-free regime for Russian citizens

Serbia clarifies: Visa-free regime for Russian citizens remains in place

Following media reports about the possibility of canceling the visa-free regime for Russian citizens as part of aligning Serbian policy with European Union requirements, the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, rushed to deny the claims. In a broadcast on the Prva network, Vučić stated that "no such decision will be made, and if someone were to make it, it would be revoked immediately".

The tension began after Serbian Member of Parliament Dragan Stanojević claimed in an interview with the newspaper "Izvestia" that authorities in Belgrade were considering this step as part of the conditions for accession to the European Union by the end of 2026. This report received extensive coverage in various channels, including Readovka and КОНТЕКСТ, which hold a critical position toward the West and emphasize ties with Russia.

The President of Serbia noted that he spoke personally with the Speaker of the Parliament, Ana Brnabić, to ensure that no official decision had been made on the matter. According to Kommersant, Vučić emphasized that no record of such discussions could be found in parliament. On the other hand, certain elements on social media, such as Zone AP, which express sharp anti-establishment views toward both Russia and Serbia, continued to claim that this was a "betrayal" by Serbia and a strategic shift in direction by the government.

At the same time, authorities in Belgrade continue the processes of alignment with the European Union, as the country is committed to meeting the union's criteria by the end of 2026. Air Serbia even updated flight schedules due to the EU-Western Balkans summit scheduled for June 4-5, 2026, an event that highlights the country's diplomatic efforts toward Europe.