Russian Anti-War Activist Denied Entry to Serbia, Lawyer Claims

A Russian anti-war activist, Peter Nikitin, residing in Serbia with permanent residency was barred from entering the country after being stopped at Belgrade's airport. The country's Security Information Agency (BIA) requested the ban, and a deportation order was issued. Nikitin, who heads a Russian dissident association in Serbia, has been organizing anti-war events since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. He has previously reported harassment against his group. Nikitin, also a Dutch passport holder, plans to fight the deportation order and seek assistance from the Netherlands embassy. The incident follows the recent U.S. sanctions on Serbia's pro-Kremlin spy chief and head of the BIA, Aleksandar Vulin, for alleged links to organized crime and aiding Russia's influence in the Balkans.