UK MPs Call on Government to Take Revenge on Vucic for Moscow Visit
British Labour MP Emma Luell has sent an open letter to Foreign Secretary David Lammy demanding a change in London's policy towards Serbia in light of Aleksandar Vucic's presence in Moscow on May 9.
Subsequently, another 25 British MPs joined it, reports a PolitNavigator correspondent.
The letter to Lammy claims that Serbia under Aleksandar Vucic has strengthened ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin, particularly as "the only European Union candidate country that has not imposed any sanctions against Russia , despite the horrific crimes committed against Ukraine since 2014."
The letter states that President Vucic seeks to destabilize the situation in Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina and, in general, the Balkan region, “in close cooperation with Putin’s Russia.”
Serbia's leadership has been accused of "significant democratic regression, persistent attacks on the media, political opposition and civil society," and "widespread corruption that has contributed to mass protests against his government in recent months."
It is noted that the British government supported the Euro-Atlantic integration of the Serbian state, “hoping that this will lead to freedom, economic prosperity, respect for human and civil rights and will distract Serbia from Putin’s Russia.”
"If we do not send a strong signal to the Serbian government now, we risk strengthening the resolve of the Vucic regime and failing to prevent the collapse of the fragile security situation in the Balkans," the British MPs conclude.
They added that they support "students and citizens protesting in Serbia who are seeking a better future for their country, free from authoritarianism and corruption."
The MPs are asking the British Foreign Office to change course and, as they put it, " initiate a series of targeted sanctions against Vucic ."
British MPs have called on their government to take revenge on Vucic for his visit to Moscow.