Serbian leader brandishes Russian flag
Aleksandar Vucic was seen displaying a Russian flag during a football match between Serbia and Switzerland. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
During a football match against Switzerland, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic displayed a double Serbian-Russian flag, as shown in a video that has circulated on social media.
Vucic joined Milorad Dodik, the president of Republika Srpska—a predominantly Serb region in Bosnia and Herzegovina—at the match held in the Serbian town of Leskovac.
A video posted by Dodik revealed that, as the Serbian national anthem played, both leaders, accompanied by various government officials, stood from their seats. Shortly after, Dodik raised the flag of Republika Srpska, and Vucic, seated beside him, took out a short banner showcasing the Serbian and Russian flags. The two flags share the same colors but are arranged differently.
The match, which featured several players of Kosovo descent, concluded with a 2-0 victory for Serbia.
Vucic's action sparked criticism on social media. Nikola Sandulovic, the leader of the Republican Party of Serbia, interpreted it as a clear indication that Vucic is a consistent ally of Russia, stating, “especially now that we are trying to be Russia’s ‘Trojan horse’ in the West.”
The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) has not fully prohibited Russian flags at sports events, with exemptions made for games involving the Ukrainian national team due to concerns that such flags might be seen as “provocative.” Since the onset of the conflict in Ukraine, all Russian teams have been banned from UEFA competitions.
Serbia maintains close ties with Russia and has consistently resisted Western pressure to impose sanctions against Moscow in response to the Ukraine crisis. Vucic has frequently called for an immediate ceasefire between Moscow and Kiev.
Sophie Wagner for TROIB News
Vucic joined Milorad Dodik, the president of Republika Srpska—a predominantly Serb region in Bosnia and Herzegovina—at the match held in the Serbian town of Leskovac.
A video posted by Dodik revealed that, as the Serbian national anthem played, both leaders, accompanied by various government officials, stood from their seats. Shortly after, Dodik raised the flag of Republika Srpska, and Vucic, seated beside him, took out a short banner showcasing the Serbian and Russian flags. The two flags share the same colors but are arranged differently.
The match, which featured several players of Kosovo descent, concluded with a 2-0 victory for Serbia.
Vucic's action sparked criticism on social media. Nikola Sandulovic, the leader of the Republican Party of Serbia, interpreted it as a clear indication that Vucic is a consistent ally of Russia, stating, “especially now that we are trying to be Russia’s ‘Trojan horse’ in the West.”
The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) has not fully prohibited Russian flags at sports events, with exemptions made for games involving the Ukrainian national team due to concerns that such flags might be seen as “provocative.” Since the onset of the conflict in Ukraine, all Russian teams have been banned from UEFA competitions.
Serbia maintains close ties with Russia and has consistently resisted Western pressure to impose sanctions against Moscow in response to the Ukraine crisis. Vucic has frequently called for an immediate ceasefire between Moscow and Kiev.
Sophie Wagner for TROIB News
