Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
Discussing growing cooperation between the Serbian and Russian interior ministries, Bojana Zorić told Radio Slobodna Evropa, that it calls into question the long-term compatibility of Serbia's security policy with the European security framework.
"Such an approach may allow Belgrade to maintain relations with both sides in the short term, but in the long run it carries the risk of undermining the trust of European partners and further complicating Serbia's European integration process," she warned.
She argued that cooperation between the two countries in sensitive areas, such as criminal investigations, cybercrime and joint training, raises questions about the nature of the information being exchanged and poses potential risks, primarily of an intelligence-related and institutional nature.
"What level of access do Russian officials have to Serbia’s security structures, and are there adequate mechanisms in place to protect sensitive data?"
Bojana stressed that even in the absence of direct exchanges of classified information, long-term institutional cooperation can provide deeper insights into a partner country’s security procedures, operational methods and capabilities, potentially creating additional channels for political and security influence. (in Serbian)