IN THE CAPITAL OF SERBIA Russians protested in Belgrade against Putin's war in Ukraine

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - Russian citizens who moved to Serbia during the war in Ukraine, as well as others who oppose that war, gathered today at Republic Square in the center of Belgrade demanding the withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine.

At the rally organized by the Russian Democratic Society in Serbia on the occasion of 10 months since the start of the war, citizens carried white-blue-white Russian and white-red-white Belarusian anti-war flags, and on banners were slogans in various languages: „The light in the hearts of Ukrainians will not go out“, „Putin, hands off Ukraine“ and „Stop the war, please“.

One of the founders of the Russian Democratic Society, Pyotr Nikitin, told reporters that the main message of the protest is that the war in Ukraine „is not Russia's war, but the war of its President Vladimir Putin“.

„Not in our name, this is a criminal war. It is a shame for Russia that must end as soon as possible with the withdrawal of the Russian army. The destruction of Ukrainian cities must stop. The war must end next year“, Nikitin said.

He added that there are also pressures on those who organize protests like this and that they often receive threats via social networks.

„Ukrainians are not afraid, (Russian opposition figure) Alexei Navalny is not afraid, Russian opposition figures openly speak out against the war in Russia, but they fear prison, and we are ashamed to be afraid of those idiots who send us threats“, Nikitin emphasized.

He said that anti-war protests are also being held in Russia, noting that people there are setting fire to military commissariats and recruitment centers, for which they are being arrested, but this is barely visible in the media because all eyes are turned to Ukraine.

Nikitin added that it takes time for the anti-war message from protests held, as in Belgrade, across Europe, to reach people due to strong propaganda and the blocking of a large number of social networks.

After the rally, participants set off on an „anti-war walk“ through the central city streets from Republic Square to the Russian Embassy, and at the head of the column was a banner reading „Peace to Ukraine, freedom to Russia“.