Corruption grows in Serbia – using the US playbook
This week the Serbian government decided that it was given carte blanche by the US government to go after Serbian CSOs, which were funded by USAID. This was under the pretext that the Serbian government was supporting the US government’s concerns about the unproven claims of USAID’s corrupt actions. The Reuter's article noted that these “raids came amid ongoing mass student protests against populist President Aleksandar Vucic and his government.
Students, opposition parties and rights watchdogs accuse authorities loyal to Vucic and his Serbian Progressive Party of rampant corruption, bribing voters, stifling media freedom, violence against opponents, and ties with organised crime.”
These attacks are a quick lesson in how corrupt regimes will take up a very clear message from the US, highlighting a lack of interest in corruption and illegality. There has been support from the European Parliament and local CSOs and watchdogs. What is disappointing is the lack of reaction on the part of the US Embassy in Serbia , with the embassy’s front page today highlighting the Secretary of State’s meeting with the Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs. Unfortunately, this highlights where the US stands.
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