Serbia gets a positive economic boost from Russians fleeing war
Serbia is one of the few countries where Russians are welcome.
Serbia was able to benefit financially and economically from Russian citizens who decided to leave Russia because of the invasion of Ukraine.
The country accepts Russian citizens, helps them settle in a new place, and in return receives a highly skilled labor force with pro-European views.
Source. This was stated by Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic in an interview with Bloomberg.
Brnabic did not name the exact number of Russians who came to Serbia, but noted that the number is in the thousands.
Serbia is one of the few European countries that has not imposed sanctions on Russia, and the Prime Minister explains this decision by the fact that most Serbian citizens are against such restrictions. In addition, Serbia remembers how similar restrictions were imposed on Serbia itself during the war in Yugoslavia.
"Our people are strongly opposed to sanctions. We believe that the sanctions do not actually reduce Moscow's ability or willingness to continue the war," the Prime Minister said.
Belgrade believes that sanctions will not help bring Moscow to the negotiating table. At the same time, Serbia condemns Russia's invasion of Ukraine, but Serbia does not intend to shame the Russians who left.
On the contrary, the local authorities see prospects in the emigration of educated Russians and are even ready to create favorable conditions for them.
Brnabic expressed her satisfaction with the fact that qualified and talented young professionals, especially engineers, come to the country, becoming local taxpayers and helping the local high-tech industry to develop actively.
"These young people are really Western-oriented, very well educated, and they are against the war. This is good for us," the Prime Minister said, emphasizing that Serbia is one of the few countries where Russians are welcome.
As a reminder, the leaked Pentagon documents show that Serbia has been supplying weapons to Ukraine.
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