Russia on Monday accused Western nations of fomenting tensions in Serbia, a Moscow-friendly Balkan nation rocked by protests over alleged fraud in elections held on December 17.

Just a day earlier than, demonstrators tried to storm the Belgrade metropolis corridor however had been pushed again by police utilizing pressure and pepper spray. They reject the outcomes of parliamentary and native elections wherein President Aleksandar Vucic’s social gathering claimed a commanding victory.

A couple of hundred protesters gathered in Belgrade on Monday blocking a avenue the place the ministry of public administration and local-self authorities is positioned, an AFP reporter mentioned.

The vote sparked criticism after a group of worldwide observers — together with from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) — denounced “irregularities”, together with “vote buying” and “ballot box stuffing”.

“The attempts of the collective West to destabilise the situation in the country are obvious,” Russian overseas ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova advised state-run information company RIA Novosti.

The Kremlin had welcomed election outcomes, saying Moscow hoped they might result in the “further strengthening of friendship” between the nations.

It dismissed accusations of meddling following the protests.

“There are attempts by third parties, including from abroad, to provoke the unrest in Belgrade,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov mentioned Monday.

Serbia and Russia have traditionally shut ties and Belgrade didn’t be a part of worldwide sanctions towards Moscow for its Ukraine offensive.

Serbia has nevertheless condemned Russia’s aggression on the United Nations.

Russia’s ambassador to Belgrade Aleksandr Botsan-Kharchenko met with Vucic on Monday and accused Western nations of making an attempt to retaliate towards the Serbian chief.

“The attempts to destabilise Vucic’s power are linked to his firm stance in refusing to join anti-Russian sanctions,” he mentioned in a televised interview following the talks.

Serbia is nearly completely depending on Russian fuel.

Russia additionally crucially backs Serbia over Kosovo, rejecting its independence and serving to shut the previous province out of the United Nations.