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Russian Lawyer Critical of Kremlin’s War in Ukraine Allowed to Enter Serbia After Passport Confiscation
Pyotr Nikitin, a Russian lawyer known for his sharp criticism of the Kremlin’s war in Ukraine, was finally allowed to enter Serbia after being stranded at the Belgrade airport for more than 24 hours. Authorities had initially confiscated his passport and denied him entry.
Nikitin, who has been residing in Serbia for the past seven years, had arrived on a flight from Germany on July 13. He is the founder of the Russian Democratic Society in Serbia, an association of Russian expatriates that has grown significantly since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Nikitin believes that his ordeal was linked to his anti-war activities.
Expressing his thoughts after being allowed to enter Serbia, Nikitin told RFE/RL, “Russia has a great influence on the Serbian authorities, who simply fulfill their orders.” He also revealed that Serbia’s Security Information Agency (BIA) chief Aleksandar Vulin was responsible for the decision to deny him entry into the country.
Nikitin, who has organized protests in support of Ukraine and is a vocal critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, suspects that his case was personally decided by Vulin. Although he lacks concrete evidence, he finds no other explanation for what happened. On July 11, Vulin was placed on a U.S. sanctions list for allegedly using his position to further Russian and criminal agendas, including arms dealing and drug trafficking.
Despite having a valid residence permit, being married to a Serbian citizen, and having two children in the country, officials continued to pressure Nikitin to leave Serbia, even offering him flights out of the country. However, he repeatedly refused and appealed the ban.
Nikitin, who holds dual Russian and Dutch citizenship, had arrived at Belgrade’s Nikola Tesla airport after a vacation. He expressed hope that the Dutch Embassy would assist him within their jurisdiction.
The Russian Democratic Society, led by Nikitin, has been actively organizing protests against Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine and has been providing support to antiwar Russians who wish to settle in Serbia. Although Serbia has historically maintained friendly ties with Russia and has refrained from joining the sanctions imposed by Europe and Ukraine’s Western allies, there have been growing voices of opposition that support Nikitin’s cause.
Anti-war activists protested in front of the Serbian Parliament on July 13, and an online petition was launched to allow Nikitin to enter Serbia. Anastasia Vorjanova, a coordinator of the Russian Democratic Society, stated, “An injustice was done to him. There is no reason for the ban, and we would like to see an explanation from the state.”
During the protest, Nikitin’s lawyer, Cedomir Stojkovic, emphasized that his client possessed a Serbian identity card and a valid residence permit. Stojkovic criticized the decision to ban Nikitin and labeled it as an act driven by personal preferences, as Vulin and Nikitin have differing views on Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Opposition lawmaker Srdjan Milivojevic, a member of the Committee for Human and Minority Rights in the Serbian parliament, expressed his disappointment at not being allowed to visit Nikitin at the airport to provide him with food and water. Milivojevic highlighted that Nikitin’s rights guaranteed under Serbian law had been violated, stating, “I was shocked that we are really getting confirmation that the BIA has become a tool and a weapon in the hands of the authorities to advance anti-European politics.”
Serbia, which has long expressed aspirations to join the European Union, became a candidate in 2012. However, accession negotiations have faced challenges, with Serbia’s close ties to Russia being a major point of contention.
The case of Pyotr Nikitin highlights the ongoing tension between those who support Russia’s actions in Ukraine and those who oppose them, not only in Ukraine itself but also within neighboring countries like Serbia. The incident raises questions about the influence of Russia on Serbia’s government and its impact on individuals who hold differing views.
