Representatives of Serbia’s student movement said during a visit to Berlin that they would “certainly not seek advice in Moscow,” as they stepped up preparations to contest upcoming elections.
Members of the movement’s foreign policy team, drawn from universities in Belgrade, Novi Pazar and Nis, took part in a closed-door discussion in Berlin on Feb. 24 organised by the German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP).
“One thing is organising protests, another is preparing for elections,” a representative from Belgrade told participants from German civil society, government and media.
According to the invitation, the meeting was an “informational exchange with representatives of the Serbian student movement.” Attendees sought updates on the state of the protests, particularly in light of the next parliamentary elections.
Shift towards elections
More than six months have passed since the last such exchange in Berlin, and much has changed in the movement’s organisation, the student representatives said.
“There have been organisational changes that have strengthened our structures,” said a member of the delegation from Belgrade, introduced by SWP as part of the movement’s “foreign policy team.”
The focus has now shifted towards election preparations. The representatives said they believe elections, once considered possible this year, will instead be held next year.
“When we realised that the protests would not lead to the desired results, meaning political accountability, we began working on organising for elections,” they said.
Preparations include compiling electoral lists and drafting a political programme.
Rejecting nationalism allegations
The delegation, which included students from Belgrade, Nis and Novi Pazar, sought to counter what they described as persistent claims in some media outlets that nationalists had taken over the movement.
A representative from Novi Pazar said the movement had succeeded in integrating members of all national communities, particularly Bosniaks. That was important, she said, in response to what she called attempts by the authorities to “demonise Bosniaks from Sandzak.”
She added that the movement was seeking to unite different forces in society and that branding it as nationalist was “completely wrong.” The student electoral list includes an “appropriate number” of candidates who identify as Bosniak, she said.
Addressing the use of national symbols by some within the movement, the students described their approach as one of “integrative patriotism.”
Russia and foreign policy
Participants from German organisations and media were particularly interested in Russia’s role in Serbia’s current political developments.
A representative from Nis said Russian intelligence services were especially active in the city, citing what he described as Russian interests there. He referred to the Russian Party operating in Nis and the Serbian-Russian Humanitarian Center.
The students also criticised what they called President Aleksandar Vučić’s “non-existent foreign policy” and pointed to what they described as non-transparent relations between the Serbian leadership and China, largely centred on economic interests. “No one knows what Vučić has sold to China,” one representative said.
Outlining their own foreign policy orientation, they added: “This is our third time in Berlin. We have been to Brussels, but we will certainly not seek advice in Moscow.”
Improved ties with Berlin
Since the start of the student movement, speakers at events in Germany had criticised Berlin for not doing enough to support students in their push for reforms.
“In the meantime, that has completely changed,” one representative said. “In Berlin they have recognised the importance of our movement, and whenever we are here we simply do not have enough time to meet everyone who wants to talk to us.”