While watching a video promoting Serbia, Putin's photo caught my attention. Why do Serbs feel so close to Russians and Putin? Or is it not quite as it seems?
Posted by Worried-Owl-9198@reddit | AskBalkans | View on Reddit | 200 comments
SatanistKesenKedi100@reddit
Russia supported Serbia a lot of time that is probably main reason why that they are so popular.
SlavicRobot_@reddit
Its like people forget the only aid Serbia got during WW1 was from Russia after being invaded by both Austra-Hungeria and Germany. Pretty obvious why they appreciate them.
TemperatureXtreme@reddit
But also they were against our constitution and flag ( sretenjski ustav - sretenje constitution 1835 ), tho many people don’t know that.
Ok_Session_3213@reddit
And also they got money from Americans and flew out from Kosovo 1998-1999
vladedivac12@reddit
Didn't they sell arms to Croats during the 90s too?
Ok_Session_3213@reddit
But hey... Russia is ''motherland''
vladedivac12@reddit
Slavs in the Balkans more likely migrated from modern day Ukraine than Russia so technically, Ukraine is motherland lol
MickeSebring@reddit
Everyone was against it, we managed to unite every global superpower against it.
greenest_alien@reddit
Italy and France were directly aiding Serbia, Russia was not.
Eg.: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serbian_campaign_(1915)
konstantin_gorca@reddit
Thank you. I thought France was of great help in WW1 and also that after the retreat over Albania it was French and British ships that transferred Serbian soldiers to Greece
Caramel-and-Waffle@reddit
That's a good reason to historically be sympathetic towards Russia. But that was literally 100 years ago. If what happened 100 years ago should dictate how different nationalities feel about each other, Germany, Japan, and Italy would be hated by basically everyone. Serbs should be smart enough to realize that modern day Russia is not someone with whom to ally oneself. You just genuinely can't trust them.
Unitedpossibles@reddit
Well some people just love propaganda haha. They have a hard time understanding that all the major countries: Russia, China, USA… they act in their own interests. These countries and their leaders don’t give a shit about anything else other than their own influence and power. The dumbest of the dumb watch these little PR stunts and really believe them.
The most clear fact of what Russia was actually trying to do after Tito didn’t bow to Russian pressure and align with them were the 20+ assination attempts against Tito, leading the one of the most epic quotes from Tito:
“Stop sending people to kill me. We have already captured five. If you don’t stop, I will send one to Moscow—and I won’t have to send another.”
driftstyle28@reddit
Tito sent a bunch of Serbs to his own version of a Gulag-Goli Otok saying they are Stalinists during that Tito-Stalin split.
vladedivac12@reddit
Cominform was initially set up in Belgrade. Not all Yugoslavs/Serbs supported Tito's position leading to the 1948 split with the Soviets. Many communist believed in Stalin's Socialism in One Country ideology and thought Tito's position would weaken communism.
vladedivac12@reddit
Every sane Serb know Russia is looking out for their interests first. Sometimes interests align sometimes they don't. Geopolitics was and will always be a dirty game.
vladedivac12@reddit
Everybody from that time has been dead for a long time now. Things change. The Brits and French used to fight each other now they're allies. Germany fucked over many countries which are allies now too.
drug_K@reddit
Only aid" is a bit of a stretch. In 1914 Serbia practically repelled three Austro-Hungarian invasions on its own, that's its own military achievement. Russia did mobilize explicitly in Serbia's defense, but France and Britain equally tied down Germany on the Western Front. Same type of indirect help. Russia gets more credit because of the Pan-Slavic narrative, not because of proportionally greater sacrifice for Serbia.
Saalle88@reddit
People don't know our own history.
vladedivac12@reddit
Yes and no.
opetja22@reddit
The only man who follows logic on reddit. 😁
Unitedpossibles@reddit
That’s not logic, haha. The propaganda that you expose yourself to and believe is emotive, not factual. Logic would be understanding why they did it. And it wasn’t brotherly love. It was a strategic alliance. If you actually read about Czar Nicholas, he was really torn on doing this but didn’t want to lose regional power and global status. It had nothing to do with Serbia. Someone above already said that but it seems that you have air for brain because you actually believe this BS narrative
opetja22@reddit
Ok
Unitedpossibles@reddit
It was for their own needs not Serbias. And since then, give me one example where Russia has backed Serbia other than the putting their hand up at the joke of a UN. Where were they when NATO attacked. Nowhere. You are taking a 100 year example and using it as a reason why some Serbians like Russia. And I’m saying that whoever thinks this is brainwashed
opetja22@reddit
For their own needs and a little bit for Serbia. For some people in Serbia that’s enough.
Unitedpossibles@reddit
Fair enough, but it’s not logical
opetja22@reddit
Ok🤷♂️
Syrmin@reddit
In local store near me there are random pictures of Draža Mihajlović, Ratko Mladić and Putin. Owner is ultra conservative nationalist, kinda ironic as 2/3 persons are more connected to communism than conservatism lol
insanekos@reddit
Which 2 persons, exactly?
Syrmin@reddit
Putin former KGB agent and Mladić general of socialist Yugoslav army
insanekos@reddit
That has nothing to do with them being Cummunists. Do you even know what being a Communist is?
Syrmin@reddit
Being communist personel under communist regime, learning comminist dogma (both Putin and Mladić) doesn't make them non-communist just because they later take nationalism as well.
insanekos@reddit
So a multi-bilionaire oligarch and ultra-nationalist general are actualy Communists? I have a bridge to sell you, fairly new, only few times driven over.
konstantin_gorca@reddit
Of course that Putin doesn't believe in classless society. But his formative years and most of the career were in a strict communist regime. He can claim orthodox Christianity as much as he wants, he remains a communist apparatchik in his heart. Only he tasted billions now.
It is also interesting that most of hardcore nationalists from Serbia in the 90s were communists in "previous life" and in party circles, they were all considered Stalinists (Seselj, ultranationalist war criminal was writing praises about him in the 70s). This is an interesting phenomenon. Putin also has deep respect for Stalin. Maybe it is psychological. It could be a great subject for a research on a path from Stalinism to ultra-nationalism
vladedivac12@reddit
Most of the leaders/higher position people in communist regimes in the 80s weren't purists, mostly opportunists. The list is long, especially in the Balkans.
amazingamy19@reddit
What a line up ..
Worried-Owl-9198@reddit (OP)
Interesting I would have expected something more related to Pan-Slavism or Orthodoxy.
Syrmin@reddit
Orthodoxy is common among nationalists, pan-Slavism not really
Worried-Owl-9198@reddit (OP)
Hmm, thank you.
Ok-Bandicoot9963@reddit
His popularity in Serbia is going down but there are still some so called "rusofili" who looks at him like a God who will protect us from USA 😂
RaulRene@reddit
Lol our word for rusofili is exactly the same
Alexandros2099@reddit
It's a Greek word.
Mission_Comedian5585@reddit
Idk dude, sounds macedonian to me.
OmeletteDuFromage95@reddit
Username checks out
Alexandros2099@reddit
Russo-: Derived from Neo-Latin Russus, referring to Russia. -philia: From Greek φιλία (philia), meaning "fondness," "love," or "tendency towards". Oxford English Dictionary Oxford English Dictionary +3
Mission_Comedian5585@reddit
I think we need to settle this by having macedonians build a statue of a rusofil. If youre still uncertain, im joking.
Key_Credit_525@reddit
and they should get same punishment as their "pedofili" colleagues
SalamusBossDeBoss@reddit
well what do you expect when usa bombed them
konstantin_gorca@reddit
I mean, we fought 2 world wars against Germany and it is our biggest trading partner. Russophilia in Serbia originates in 19th century and NATO bombing is only used as a nice excuse for not joining EU and kissing Russia's ass.
Saalle88@reddit
These kids don't know about bombing, they are born in 2000+ and they didn't experience the feeling of hiding in the basement watching your parents cry in fear for your own life.
SalamusBossDeBoss@reddit
or the breakdown of the international law and 0 consequences- things the kids cry about with trump, when clinton bombardavao the embassy, television and civilians
greenest_alien@reddit
Serbs conduct a genocide of an entire nation but the real victims are the television propagandists and the people's republic of china.
Grand_Bad8317@reddit
Lmao you really gobbled up that propaganda.
vladedivac12@reddit
I'm sure r/saalle88 and his family were participating in military actions in the 90s
JimbosBalls@reddit
Based profile pic, man of culture.
Pjeter_Bogdani@reddit
Did you know that from the NATO air campaign, more ethnically albanians died than serbs? But still they are seen as heroes because they stopped an ongoing genocide in Kosovo. While im sorry for what happened to you and how you hid in the basement. That doesn’t even come close to the situation that was in Kosovo
Careful_Medium7237@reddit
Who asked
Pjeter_Bogdani@reddit
3/10. Look at the context between the lines and what is implied. Then you come to the common sense/natural conclusion that i came to. Have a great day lil bro
Equivalent-Okra-8639@reddit
Well then Serbs should hate Putin for doing the exact same thing to Ukraine.
SalamusBossDeBoss@reddit
why should they hate putin? for doing to ukraine what america did to serbia-kosovo?
dsotiw@reddit
What America did to Serbia? Is it somehow related to what serbs did to kosovo, Bosnia, Croatia?
Unable-Stay-6478@reddit
No, it isn't. Croats also had 2 year war with Bosniaks, why didn't Americans bombed them? Albanians also had a war with Macedonians, why didn't Americans bombed them?
greenest_alien@reddit
There never was a war between Albania and Macedonia though. There was UČK activity in Macedonia, for which the west successfully helped broker a ceasefire and disarmament.
As for the war in Bosnia, the USA did conduct bombing there and did stop it.
Unable-Stay-6478@reddit
When did the USA bombed Croat forces?
greenest_alien@reddit
Never.
Equivalent-Okra-8639@reddit
They cry because their civilians had to hide from bombs while glorifiying someone who bombs civilians. Either they are trolling or just stupid.
SalamusBossDeBoss@reddit
or maybe what goes around comes around
Equivalent-Okra-8639@reddit
By that logic Serbs should stop complaining because what goes around comes around.
Martha_Fockers@reddit
tiga_94@reddit
this is what russian propaganda promised on the lands they invaded, 12 years later they're begging to fix plumbing in Donetsk as there is no water supply, from a city that hosted Euro-2012 and such it turned into real russian world with poo bags thrown out the windows of apartment buildings, protected from USA, no NATO in the vicinity yeah
Prize_Management9936@reddit
Because they never shared a border.
OmeletteDuFromage95@reddit
Goddamn that's a clever response
ChestCharacter1157@reddit
That goes for most countries
opetja22@reddit
The best answer. 😁
Unitedpossibles@reddit
I went by bus from Serbia to Mitrovica (ethnic Serbia controlled northern Kosovo). I got off the bus, looked around, and right when you get off, there was this massive painting across this entire wall. It was huge! The whole thing was Putin and Russia attacking the White House. Didn’t see anything like that in Serbia itself, but I think the old school guys like the idea of Russia and see them as allies.
pumpasklitas@reddit
this used to be in New Belgrade, stayed there dor years until recently replaced
even crazier, uh? 😹
vladedivac12@reddit
They should add Jared Kushner
amazingamy19@reddit
What is this promotion lol. Looks like a retirement home, or something thematically Russian.
Anyway, we do not feel particularly close to Russians.
I guess some older people simp for Putin.
fantomacan_@reddit
It’s definitely not just older people, younger generations have been conditioned to love Russia as well. Russian state has deep ties in this government and institutions.
vladedivac12@reddit
I doubt the average young person in Serbia "loves" the Russian state. At worst, they're neutral, see it as a superpower imperialist state like the US. They like / don't hate the Russian people, who are Slavic and Christian Orthodox like them, even though they're not super close culturally like with other Balkan people.
Worried-Owl-9198@reddit (OP)
It's a bar I liked it, there were some dozing uncles inside lmao.
Jovan_Konstantinovic@reddit
cheap kafana place with local alcoholics, I'm not surprised.
Btw, remove everything after "?" when you share the link, so you not dox yourself
Worried-Owl-9198@reddit (OP)
Oops thank you! I’ll definitely visit this place.
amazingamy19@reddit
Lol. This is like all the memes come to life.
JasonFundeberker@reddit
I don't know why almost no one provided actual viable reasons and only shared some of their personal opinion (e.g., "only the old guys like Russia") without trying to answer the actual question from OP. To understand this connection between Serbia and Russia you need to look at the broader historical and cultural context. Keep in my mind that I'm is Russian myself, so I may be a little bit biased:
-the Balkans are a mix of different religions, including Islam and different branches of Christianity. Some countries are Muslim, most are Catholic and the minority are Orthodox Christian. This by nature makes some Catholic countries closer to their Catholic neighbors, Orthodox to Orthodox neighbors, etc.
-add to that several hundreds of years being under Ottoman Empire rule with religious persecution and several attempts to revolt from various Balkan nations;
-Serbs being Orthodox Christians, naturally grew closer to Russia being one of the main Orthodox superpowers at the time. Especially considering - Russia had a lot of geopolitical clashes with Ottomans and used this Orthodox connection to promote internal conflicts in this region in order "to protect Orthodox population";
-for example, Russia even lobbied the creation and sovereignty of modern-day Bulgaria (another Orthodox state in the Balkans) as a must-have condition after one of those Russian-Turko wars in the San Stefano treaty of 1878;
-all of that sort of historically created "little bro-elder bro" relations between not only Serbia, but other Orthodox countries in the region. If some of those relationships to some reasons worsened throughout time (e.g., Bulgaria quite famously opposing Russia in both World Wars lmao), relationships between Serbia and Russia kept strong throughout those years;
-even the sole reason (at least formally) of Russian Empire entering the WW1 was "to protect our orthodox brothers in Serbia". In reality ofc that was a major conflict between superpowers for changing power balance in the world. But in terms of formal reasons - that was the main one that was used for the population and the army. So Serbs also remember that;
-as for the various comments here telling that "Russia didn't help Serbia during the Kosovo conflict" - that's also maybe not a blatant lie, but certainly doesn't provide most of the truth. Russia consistently backed up (and continues even now) Serbia in this conflict diplomatically, being one of the most active countries in the UN in stating that that was the "violation of international law", opposing all the military actions against Serbs, etc.
-Russia still doesn't recognize Kosovo as an independent state and doesn't have any diplomatic relationships with them. As for the military support - you need to understand that 1999 Russia wasn't the USSR or even modern-day Russia, it was pretty much a weak nation with lots of internal conflicts, crumbled economy after the 1998 financial crisis, banditism, etc. - so obv it didn't have the capacity to oppose US and European superpowers. Despite that, there were weak attempts to be involved (Pristina airport), but that wasn't effective
All of that created strong cultural and historical ties. Most of them are based on Orthodox Christianity. There are historically strong connections between Russian, Serbian and Greek football fan groups (e.g., Spartak Moscow-Red Star-Olympiacos and CSKA Moscow-Partizan-PAOK) that are based on the "same colours-same faith-same team" principle. To say that only elder people and delulus support Russia in Serbia maybe is a Reddit thing, but at least in my personal experience I've met lots of younger Serbs in real life, who would instantly get delighted once they would hear that I'm Russian, invite to get a drink and would shout some "Срби и Руси браћа заувек!".
I understand that maybe that isn't as popular between youngsters both in Russia and Serbia, especially considering the protests against Vucic and all that stuff, but it still exists. But to say that it completely doesn't exist - is not true at all. Perhaps to get the answer to that question OP need to talk to some people in real life, since Reddit is a quite niche audience with all due respect.
Intelligent-Front778@reddit
1) First Serbian Uprising (against ottomans and it wasn't first, more like 100th but none were even remotely as successful) kicked off, among other reasons, because Ottomans were busy defending against Russians and Russians supplied some new arms to Serbs prior to the uprising and gunpowder and shot during the uprising.
2) Prior to WWI Russia was the only power that stood behind Serbia's independence.
3) Russia in WWII generally plus they actually coordinated with partisans and crushed German strongholds in Yugoslavia but almost exclusively in Serbia
4) Panslavizam
5) Serbia's apparent love of strongman leaders
Stardash81@reddit
Just saying but prior to WWI Serbia's main weapons supplier and main creditor was France (not Russia) after 1906 (before that Serbia was basically an Austrian protectorate). Russia's support was...very distant to say the least and they initially supported Bulgaria instead.
Also, if Serbia survived WWI and Yugoslavia (pretty much a Greater Serbia) happened it's not exactly thanks to Russia was it ?
The panslavism and Russia-Serbia friendship sound nice but when you look the facts it seems that it's actually not that deep. Pretty sure multiple countries could claim to be better allies of Serbia than Russia.
Che_Varack@reddit
I would add that Serbia participated in Russian civil war on the side of whites financialy and militarily. Later Yugoslavia didn't recognized nor had diplomatic relations with USSR up until 1940. Serbian nationalist fought partisans harder, and later exclusively during WWII as they saw them as USSR proponents. Communists brole the rank with the Soviets in 1947. and Yugoslavia was under the threat of invasion up until Stalin died. In the wars of breakup, Russia sold weapons to Croatia and was among the first to recognize newly separated countries. Not only Russia didn't veto total economic sanctions on FR Yugoslavia, they voted for it twice. Even China at least abstained.
vladStojDatura@reddit
This is all factually accurate, well done.
driftstyle28@reddit
Prior to WWI, the French gave the Ottomans artillery and artillery officers to attack Karadjordje but the Turks got destroyed by a 5x smaller Serbian army even if they called for Jihad against Serbia. After that, the French seem to have gotten their shit together and started supporting an actual European country. The love for the French in Serbia was huge before the 90s, everyone spoke French, we saw you as our biggest ally, but after the illegal NATO bombing we just see you as traitors, never allies, ever again.
Intelligent-Front778@reddit
During WWI France helped Serbia a LOT. From emergency supply of ammunition and army supplies during AustoHungarian third invasion and joining in on counter offensive through evacuation, curing, healing, rearming and even some retraining of remnants of Serbian army (almost 100000 soldiers survived to join Balkan front) and then their cavalry being the only military unit that kept up with Serbs when the front broke.
We are eternally grateful to France for that, even NATO bombardment of Serbian forces and Serbia itself during Balkan conflicts didn't change that. One of the most important monuments in Belgrade if the monument of gratitude to France at the entrance to Belgrade fortress.
And, yes, Russia didn't or couldn't help Serbia at times and even backstabed few times (especially during Stalin era) on the whole in Serbian eyes they did far more good than bad. People realize that most of it if not all, especially what Putin did during last 20 or so years, were done because it also fitted Russia's political goals but even with that during crisis more often than not they did something to help.
Worried-Owl-9198@reddit (OP)
Didn't the Russians provide the same support to the Bulgarians as well?
Intelligent-Front778@reddit
Yes, to some extent (they sabotaged them too) but it's not about Bulgaria.
Worried-Owl-9198@reddit (OP)
All right, thank you.
Particular-Pass-4021@reddit
Isn't it obvious Russia is center of Orthodox (technically) and most powerful country in that sphere of influence so why not really...
RealFatPenguin@reddit
Who's photo should they hang? Ursula von der Layen? Or, maybe, Kaja Kallas?
Che_Varack@reddit
How about noones? Why would you even having an idol? Everyone should root for themselves to be the best possible version. Having idols is for lazy and feable minded.
RealFatPenguin@reddit
I do agree with that, But i don't think the problem is that they have an idol. It seems to me the problem is that their idol is Putin. I highly doubt that there would be a thread if it was a photo of Trump, Bush, Obama, Merz, Macron or whatever. The tread is because it's a photo of Putin.
Che_Varack@reddit
I think so, too. But I think the same about people having Draža, Tito, Putin, Milošević... They are weak and have the need to belong to something larger, to feel powerful. And those people are all wrong ones to have as an icon.
RealFatPenguin@reddit
My point still stands.
ChestCharacter1157@reddit
Among older population, younger i doubt, general support for the Russian yes
aleksaroza@reddit
We Serbs throughout modern history have often looked to Russia and Russian leaders as saviours and liberators. Putin is personified as a renewed ortodox Strong leader who protects Kosovo in Serbia's grasp. That's why he Is so popular. Serbia's population is strongly anti NATO.
EpsteinEpstainTheory@reddit
Because they feel valued thinking being used as a bargaining chip for political games means anything more than being considered an inanimate object to be used and abused.
amazingamy19@reddit
Ah, an analyst from the Baltic straight to Ask Balkans.
EpsteinEpstainTheory@reddit
Showed up for me so I may as well
Serbian_solider@reddit
Russia has helped us more than any nation in our history, we are both orthodox, we have never been at war. Those are main reasons.
Just1Dude_@reddit
Serbian_solider@reddit
Thats true, Russia and Romania are countries we never fought.
YngwieMainstream@reddit
Well, NATO bombed their ass for a little mass killing which was wrong but the other guys weren't saints either.
Then guess what, Israel does a bigger mass killing and not only that they don't get bombed by NATO, US alone or Turkey, they get more weapons and more leeway to do more bombings and mass killings. Funny. So yeah.
NikobasNiko@reddit
It is not Putin per se it is Russia, it stems from ww1 when Russian emperor Romanov told the “allies” that he will make peace with Germany if they do not evacuate Serbian army which left Serbia on foot to reach Adriatic so the British and French navy can evacuate them. They probably thought the army will be destroyed and did not make ready to evacuate it and then started their bull#### with excuses while army was literally dying on Adriatic coast. When the Russian emperor told them this they panicked but part of the French fleet which was under marshal D’Epere came to help 5 ships but the Kingdom of Italy sent over 20 ships and saved Serbian army. Historically Russia was always on the same side and also, in our lives, while most of our ww1 and ww2 allies helped Muslims and Croats to destroy Yugoslavia and ultimately bombed Serbia and Montenegro to occupy Kosovo and Metohija which is part of Serbia, Russians did not join them but tried to lobby for the truth and common sense. It failed. I do not consider myself Russified (a term for Serbs who glorify Russia) but if there ever was a war we will be on the same side as Russia and not with nato who waged war on us.
NinoRasic@reddit
They have a Stockholm syndrome relationship, when in a fact russia doesnt care about serbia at all
driftstyle28@reddit
Stockholm syndrome would be Bosniaks and Turks, since we never got invaded or killed by the Russians. Stockholm syndrome is when hostages or abuse victims develop love for their abuser or captor. Read a book. Username checks out too.
NinoRasic@reddit
Isnt it half of Belgrade own by Russians dude ?
driftstyle28@reddit
Nah, there are a bunch of Russian immigrants in Belgrade at this moment, to be fair, you look as dumb as you sound.
NinoRasic@reddit
Where was russia when nato bombed where was russia when kosovo was taken ? Where is russia whenever serbia needed
driftstyle28@reddit
We are talking about Stockholm syndrome, never did I mention Russia, you mentioned Russia, it seems that you have a fixation on Russia and you look to be foaming at the mouth, please go take your meds and learn the definition of psychological coping mechanisms before making yourself look this stupid on the internet.
Block-Rockig-Beats@reddit
Because in Serbia it is not a crime being refarted.
camebackhunted@reddit
Just Serbian nationalists promoting Russian nationalism. Clueless dickheads that have nothing better to do. In reality, a lot of people don't really care about Putin or his crap. It's the popular pro-government news outlets that love doing this.
Brodyaga05@reddit
When I was in Serbia there was a lot of putin glazing, they sat it’s less now but you can’t walk through belgrade and talk to the locals without hearing him treated as the reincarnation of jesus christ
driftstyle28@reddit
Thru Belgrade? What? Now with the Russian and Ukrainian immigrants being in Belgrade for years I'm pretty sure us Belgradians understand how bad Putin is. We get reminded of it every day by our Russian neighbours who hate him to the core and even support Ukraine in the war. Also your username is Russian so I wonder what the agenda is behind the comment :)
Brodyaga05@reddit
I was there like 3 years ago and Putin was glazed on ridiculous levels in some of the less touristy parts
Machinekalibar@reddit
Russia legit went into WW1 only to protect us. They knew they werent ready and that it will be a disaster. Practical value of Serbia was low back then. But we still menaged to play out of our weight class.
CamelAmbitious7425@reddit
There is nothing more cringe, ridiculous and pathetic than Serbs simping for Russia and Putin. Is there even one other Nation in Europe where simping for another country and leader is so widespread?
Unable-Stay-6478@reddit
Yes, there is. Croatia and Germany:
https://share.google/EJBE0mzVnDlVH8AV4
CamelAmbitious7425@reddit
Where in Croatia can you buy Pictures of a German Chancellor or President? Where in Croatia can you buy German Flags? Where in Croatia are Grafitis calling Germans Brothers? I know both Germany and Croatia very well and belive me nobody in Croatia cares about Germany or any other country.
driftstyle28@reddit
Nice deflect, the Croats would have Hitler on every wall if it weren't for EU and antifascist laws pushed on them. What about Albanians and the USA?
Professional-Fee-488@reddit
Don't forget their worship of Israel, especially the recent rise in support coincidentally aligning with Jewish state's ramping up of genocidal tendencies aimed towards their Muslim brothers.
Professional-Fee-488@reddit
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-08-07/croatia-s-far-right-resurgence-sees-revival-of-nazi-era-symbolism
Professional-Fee-488@reddit
He literally is an ustahsa simp glazing Germany.
amazingamy19@reddit
There is actually.
You coming to every post about Serbia to comment. I’m not here a lot, but surely you are always here. I wonder whether you get notifications.
driftstyle28@reddit
Probably Albanian/Croatian diaspora larping as German.
CamelAmbitious7425@reddit
No i Just dont have a Life
driftstyle28@reddit
You spend way too much time online if you think that is the case in real life, maybe go outside and touch some grass?
unbaneling@reddit
Hungary. Again, both have the luxury of not neighboring rssia. rssia would enslave both if they had an opportunity, like they did with Belarus. For now they are useful idiots. Well, Vucic is actually selling ammunition to Ukraine, so he is at least somewhat smart
Tony-Angelino@reddit
It was a journey, I believe. It went on two separate tracks - political (need for ruling structure) and identical (sought by a part of the common population). During the dissolution of Yugoslavia the so-called "breakaway" nations pragmatically looked for foreign allies who would support their claim - and they found them in some western countries like Germany. On the other hand, Serbia did not do the same immediately, because they were still using that "if it was on TV, it must be the truth" mentality, inherited from the old socialism and went with "the truth will prevail". Like the whole world will understand that Serbs were right and accept that version of truth being broadcasted at home.
But when the shit hit the fan, a certain part of Serbs realised, that the world doesn't work that way and tried to do a mental reset to the times before the WW2 and Yugoslavia in general. Unfortunately, some time has passed, initial bad reputation was earned and some traditional friends "from before" like France were already swayed against. If they had gone to France in the very beginning, when the Croats went to Germany, who knows how foreign support would form. So after bad and naive first steps, they have been spurned by practically every western and local power, they desperately tried to find new and old allies using some common interests, like using their (re)newly found identity (like orthodox Christians, at least on paper) or common antagonism against the modern West. And of course Russia and China popped up.
It was never proportional or even really returned love. Looking at the culture and identity, all Balkan nations are closer to Serbia than Russia or other northern Slavic nations in general. And politically Russians (after the breakup of Yugoslavia) never really delivered political promises. In the 90s Russia had their own internal problems. And after that Russia learned to look only after itself. Serbs still dream about Russia as the only guy who could potentially harm the bully who hurt them and that's the whole core of it. All that talk about Slavic or orthodox brotherhood is pure bullshit. Like I sad, Serbs are closer to Greeks, who are not Slavic at all and nobody knew what to say initially when one orthodox country attacked the other. In the meantime, after years of propaganda, it's all just spite and sulkiness. Like an abused child hiding under the umbrella of another abuser. Because Russia is just using Serbia as a thorn in EU's backside, just like Orban, with minimal investments.
DealerSwimming4869@reddit
Goats i don t know any othere reason, from young age Serbian kid learn how to have idols
Doomscrolling67@reddit
There is no rational explanation, besides: Serbs are in need to lean on somebody, with no apparent reason.
_segamega_@reddit
let me show you what close means - bill clinton Blboulevard
Sekiro-9@reddit
Russland hat den serben fast gar nicht geholfen!!
baron_spaghetti@reddit
The “bratya Slav” bullshit is strong (and ethnic “brotherhoo” just as useless as any other kind of jaggoff nationalism.)
Matija_sjekira@reddit
The only true answer I believe is that during the Ottoman Empire and two Great Serbian Migrations into Australian empire, Serbs wanted to keep our heritage and our culture alive but the people were uneducated, so they asked the biggest Slav country to help us out: Russia. They sent their teachers and help preserve the Serbian national identity. After that Russia helped us a few other times (which they didn't do that often to other Slav countries which is the reason they aren't close today) and it kinda just stuck with people. Now for those who idolise Putin, those are just idiots.
obzovica@reddit
Because USA straight up bombed Serbia and Russia is their main enemy. On the other hand, Russia never directly attacked Serbia, quite the opposite, helped them quite a few times during their history. To that add that they have similar language, same religion and you get all this love.
jojaibranjainvestt@reddit
Serbs (we) like putin because he is an authoritarian figure who brands himself on traditional values. If you live in usa that figure is trump. If you live in italy that person is probably meloni, in turkiye erdogan.
And if you live in serbia, don’t speak russian nor you live in russia so you only get to hear positive propaganda, he is the second coming of jesus christ.
Strong, powerful yet quiet, doesn’t bad mouth, doesn’t show weakness, has a video where he is lecturing some billionaire about stealing money. And is orthodox christian who fights evil western values.
You get the idea.
fk_censors@reddit
How do Putin or Trump support traditional values? Trump is divorced and a womanizer, Putin likewise, plus he literally kills people, plus he was raised in the KGB - one of the most evil and anti Christian organizations ever. Meloni is a woman who seeks the spotlight so she is not traditional. Maybe the only one on the list is Erdogan.
jojaibranjainvestt@reddit
Yeah and obama is responsible for thousands of dead people. Merkel, Erdogan, you name it. Yet those are not first things you think of because of their public appearance and propaganda.
I am not defending putin or trump, i am just stating how they are perceived by their country’s average voters. Or in this case, in serbia regarding putin.
People didn’t vote for trump because he is a womanizer or a pos, but because he played the role of traditional strong leader that has his values set perfectly. Etc
amazingamy19@reddit
We literally think Trump in an idiotic bully
LenaLena93@reddit
Second coming of Jesus. Dude, you are doing too much.
jojaibranjainvestt@reddit
Have you visited some rural parts here?
opetja22@reddit
You’re exaggerating. 🤏
jojaibranjainvestt@reddit
There is only one person that could beat vucic in elections based on his brand alone that the average citizen would vote for. And it’s not djokovic nor djokic.
ManVSReddit@reddit
Terrorists like other terrorists
driftstyle28@reddit
How does it feel building a statue of Bill Clinton? Is Epstein next?
Unable-Stay-6478@reddit
That's why you like Americans.
Senior-Profession711@reddit
Europeans are also desperate to be associated with Americans, both culturally and politically. They copy American popular culture and use American phrases and words. Serbs do not like the West and NATO because during the 1990s they supported other nations in the Balkans. There is also a sense of Western cynicism. Serbia was banned from participating in Eurovision from 1992 to 2004 and from the 1992 Olympic Games because of the Yugoslav wars, similar to Russia today. The United States and its allies, such as Israel, can attack whoever they want and no one dares to punish them. Russia and China are independent countries and deserve respect.
driftstyle28@reddit
We don't, this is just a hick village kafana full of drunkards who still remember the NATO bombings, hate the US and have a Putin picture on their wall in spite of that😂
VanHalen2026@reddit
I do not feel close at all. I actually do not find Russians friendly or warm people.
ZihonCoirea@reddit
That is a good question, especially after Russians selling weapons to Croatia in the 90s war, did nothing to stop Kosovo’s independence after US bombed Yugoslavia in 1999, as illegal as now bombing Iran, as well as other countries, and especially after Russia using Kosovo’s example to annex Crimea, and other parts of Ukraine. There is this infantile urge by the Serbs to be loved, especially by the Russians, but the harsh truth is Russia doesn’t give a damn about Serbia unless it goes in their favor. It’s like a curse, because those poor people can’t seem to understand theres no love relationship between countries, only partnership at most.
amazingamy19@reddit
We literally sell weapons to Ukraine. Lol
AdSimple6488@reddit
Because the Serbs did similar things to their neighbours as the Russians have been doing to theirs.
Severe-Bad-9333@reddit
Same as Bosnians feel close to Turks. Same religion etc.
GlitteringLocality@reddit
A Serb once told me “orthodox brotherhood” or something as such. I just know Russia has a hand in their government too.
fk_censors@reddit
Weren't Russians some of the biggest persecutors of Orthodox Christians? Even today, Orthodox Christians are a minority in Russia.
sthastistics@reddit
You mean the communist party/regime of USSR who were mostly jewish?
stikaznorsk@reddit
During Soviet times they were. Now the ex-communists are first in the church. The Orthodox Church itself is full of ex-spies sent there during Soviet times to spy on the believers.
Extension-Detail-258@reddit
Can you give 5 guesses?
EddieDexx@reddit
The Russians didn't bomb Belgrad
Saalle88@reddit
Not really about Putin, we just like Russia. If you wanna know why go look up Serbian history and how many times Russia helped our people. This is best i can answer.
New-History7971@reddit
Yes, Russia has helped many people... They'll divide Poland with Hitler, they'll attack Finland, and if necessary, they'll even send tanks to Prague. Russia is a country of Nazis and murderers!
opetja22@reddit
Did you really not read the comment you’re replying to?😁
New-History7971@reddit
It was irony, fyi
opetja22@reddit
Just say "I didn't read" 🤷♂️😁
New-History7971@reddit
Bro, I'm not used to saying things I didn't do.
Obavestnik@reddit
That is the main russian propaganda.
David_Aaron_Finck@reddit
Vladimir Putin is the worldwide phenomenon, thinking that he has fans only in Serbia, or that Serbs loves him especially, or much more than elsewhere is just because in Serbia people does it very openly and there is not that much counter propaganda. Western from Serbia, the media are literally brainwashing people against everything that's Russian, even in the neighbour country, like mine, for example, but people mostly understand it as the whole rotten pedofile capitalistic agenda, against the only big leader, that speaks openly and even does illusionary steps against the evil satanic kitchen. Indeed, we all know not much about the human Putin, who is really the dude who wrestling with the bears, and that mystery is only increasing he's popularity more. I have heard, that Klaus Schwab described him as the best student of he's little globalistic great reset school and most reliable in the agenda, but people speak a lot, but sounds logical to me. I can't speak for myself, because I have very rare unique mindset and world views, but if I were a regular Bosnian straight dude, or elsewhere, if I had to give my sympathy and on the other side are Trump, Obama, so pretty much all of them, since the JFK, the choice would always be Putin. The last leader I sympathised in my life was Tito, he died as I was 5 or 6, so I never sympathised anyone again, but in this case, it's again Putin I probably sympathise a bit, if I have Trump and Obama in the league.
sonkds@reddit
Disregarding all the political comments here; I've been to this place many times, it's a small restraunt and the owner is a russian guy and big fan of Putin.
They make a killer goulash in bread during winter time for just a short period.
New-History7971@reddit
Why he opened restaurant in Serbia, not in ruzzia?
Ok_Session_3213@reddit
I heard when you come in Belgrade at 2 am and scream your loungs out "JA VOLIM RUSIJU" 10 random Serbians jump out and start sucking your dick off..
bilibajkic@reddit
Because allmost all media are controlled by the government, and they are spreading pro-russian propaganda and brainwashing people for years and years.
TinyAsianMachine@reddit
Russians LOVE Serbija.
Intelligent-Front778@reddit
Actually many Russians that moved to Serbia since Ruso-Ukrainian war started look at Serbs and Serbia with disdain. Not all, not even close to half but rich ones often do.
Worried-Owl-9198@reddit (OP)
Why? Serbia is a beautiful country.
Professional-Fee-488@reddit
A huge percentage of those Russians that started moving to Serbia in droves since Ukraine conflict began come from Moscow and st. Petersburg, and a lot of them are basically affluent snobs who consider their cities to be far superior in every way compared to Belgrade or Novi Sad. Conversely you'd be hard pressed to find a single Russian who moved to Serbian countryside saying anything similar to those city folk in regards to Serbia, quite the contrary, they'll be the first ones to say how their countrymen who consider Russia superior are ruining it for the rest of them and are completely free to move back to the motherland or try and go to west Europe and see how that goes.
TinyAsianMachine@reddit
I'm talking about Russians who have never been to Serbia and probably never will.
oops_all_memes@reddit
When I traveled to Serbia I had a chat with my Russian grandma. She was enthusiastic about me traveling there, mostly because she didn't approve of my previous destinations and she spoke highly of Serbia. Anyway, at some point she asked me "doesn't everyone there speak Russian?", and I had to explain that I haven't seen a single soul speaking a word of Russian other than people from Russia. And at the same time virtually everyone speaks English — I'm talking good conversational English (in comparison, you'd be hard pressed to find a person who can direct you to the nearest pharmacy/bank/bus stop in Russia outside of Moscow)
I think I didn't convince her, I could hear it in her voice. I think she thinks that's "liberal propaganda" I'm pushing
I wonder if her generation assumes Serbia is this Small Russia country because of the similarities of the flag or because they view the fall of Yugoslavia as an event similar to the dissolution of USSR
TinyAsianMachine@reddit
Political climates constantly change. Everyone develops a world view when they are most in tune with events. For a lot of people that was in their 20s. My grandma grew up in the hippie movement in America and her world view was essentially still that but a little more conditioned for the 2020s.
amazingamy19@reddit
They could freely move back to where they came from, or go somewhere else where they don’t look at the country with disdain, yet years are passing and it’s only been more and more of them.
Worried-Owl-9198@reddit (OP)
İnterestinggg 😂
heya78@reddit
Because Serbs are incompetent to understand shifts in the geopolitical landscape and have repeatedly chosen the losing side. They prefer to claim moral high ground while having absolute dictators in power.
BusyChillTwink@reddit
Because Russia is the only major power that consistently supports Serbia's territorial integrity (though China has also been doing so in the last few years), and during Putin's rule, Russia has risen from the ashes after a decade of humiliation (which was also a decade of humiliation for Serbia).
Also, we have traditionally good relations with Russia. If it weren't for that country, it is a question of when we would have freed ourselves from your rule and whether anyone would have taken our side after Austria-Hungary's July Ultimatum in 1914.
nemamkarmenisambot@reddit
OP, the kind of narrative in the comment above will give you insight in why a picture of Putin would be hanging in a bar with a checkerboard tablecloths, and it's absolute propaganda. Russia has repeatedly used the recognition of occupation of Kosovo as an excuse to occupy Ukraine, and historically every time Serbia has been in a political turmoil Russia has, without a fail, attempted to take advantage of the situation to establish Serbia as their satellite or just use it for their own interest. Going back to 19. century, modern Serb-Russian relations start with Russia peddling some weird russoslavic language to Serbian church with intent of replacing Serbian all together.
Serbs have toppled Austria Hungary; they liberated the only piece of land in Europe during WWII without US or Russian troops present; yet you'll have people disregarding these historical achievements in lieu of being an ally of a "major power". There's a saying in Serbia you'd use to make fun of these people, it goes "Nas i Rusa 300 miliona!", meaning roughly "There are 300 millions of us and Russians!"
Worried-Owl-9198@reddit (OP)
Understood buddy. Thank you
Citaku357@reddit
While getting absolutely humiliated by Ukraine lol
Leading_Guess_8207@reddit
Tradicionalno dobre odnose ? Možda, ali samo kad su oni imali neku korist od toga.
oops_all_memes@reddit
jfc under huylo Russia experiences one of worst crises in its modern history. Propaganda did a number on you
Parking_Cobbler1686@reddit
Enemy of my enemy is my friend.
PieBright8211@reddit
The vibe is stone cold in here... 😂 basically, only the old timers are into him, the young generation isn't.
Active_Unit_9498@reddit
File under "or is it not quite what it seems". There is a substantial generational divide.
Protobugarin@reddit
I smell affordable alcohol here
crivycouriac@reddit
Even Jovanka Jolić was like that
Her page was full of Russian propaganda despite officially not being aligned with them
Live-Method-219@reddit
They forgot to add Trump's photo, he's even more popular
PreWiBa@reddit
I think it is, but it is so in what some people would describe as the "real Serbia", the people in villages and small towns, the ones that watch mostly Informer and Pink TV
A lot of discussions among elites, but also online paint a picture that unfortunately isn't a true reflection of the reality on the ground.