Prominent Russian dissident Ilya Yashin delivered a powerful message in Belgrade on Friday, urging Europe to recognize Ukraine not only as a sovereign state but as a vital part of the European community defending the continent against Kremlin aggression.
Speaking before hundreds of Russian exiles gathered in a concert hall, Yashin declared, “The Ukrainian army is not only protecting Ukraine, it is protecting Europe from Russian aggression.” He called on Europeans to shift their perspective and support Ukraine as a fellow European nation under siege.
Yashin, a longtime critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, was imprisoned in 2022 for denouncing Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine and released last year alongside other political prisoners. His public appearance in Serbia marks the first by a major Russian opposition figure in the country since the war began.
Since the invasion, Serbia has seen an influx of Russians fleeing conscription or political persecution. According to Serbia’s Interior Ministry, over 74,000 Russians registered for temporary residence between February 2022 and 2024.
“This is a meeting with a true hero,” said Petr Nikitin, a Belgrade-based Russian anti-war activist in attendance.
Yashin’s visit comes at a sensitive moment for Serbia-Russia relations. Ties have cooled recently following accusations from Russia’s SVR foreign intelligence service that Serbia was supplying ammunition to Ukraine. His presence in Belgrade is likely to deepen the rift, though the Russian embassy declined to comment.
Serbia, which aims to join the European Union, continues to navigate a delicate diplomatic path. While Belgrade has condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and recognizes Ukraine’s territorial integrity, it has refused to impose sanctions on Moscow. In a sign of this balancing act, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić attended both Russia’s World War II anniversary celebrations in May and paid his first official visit to Ukraine in June.
Despite Serbia’s historical ties to Russia, including energy dependencies such as gas imports and Gazprom’s ownership of its sole oil refinery, Yashin’s message reflects the growing divide between Russia’s dissident community and Putin’s regime.
“Russians abroad must continue opposing Putin’s rule,” Yashin said, urging unity among exiles in support of democracy and Ukraine’s struggle.
His message received a standing ovation.
Written By Rodney Mbua
