Vladimir Putin gets lavish welcome on visit to ally Serbia
Russian president warns West on Balkans
17 January, 18:17Belgrade has refused to join Western sanctions against Russia over Ukraine and has pledged to stay out of NATO. The relations were further boosted recently after Putin stepped up efforts to restore Moscow's influence in the former communist countries of Eastern Europe. Putin's visit comes as thousands have held weekly demonstrations against Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic because of what they see as autocratic rule. Thousands of Vucic's right-wing party supporters have been bused into the capital to gather in front of the St. Sava Orthodox church, which the two presidents plan to visit. Vucic's critics say the gathering has been staged to suggest that the Serbian leader has many more supporters than opponents, who have been marching the same route since December to demand free elections and media. Several liberal Serbian rights groups issued a statement on Thursday protesting "glorification of Vladimir Putin's authoritarian regime." It said that Putin's visit "indicates that the Serbian rulers are ready to sacrifice human rights and better living standards of citizens because of their patronizing stands toward Putin's regime." Ahead of his Belgrade visit, Putin accused the U.S. and the West of pressuring Balkan countries to join NATO. (ANSA-AP).