On Monday, Russia accused Western countries of fueling tensions in Moscow-friendly Serbia, which has been rocked by protests over alleged election fraud on December 17.

“Obvious attempts by the collective West to destabilize the situation in the country with the help of Maidan-style coups,” said Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, quoted by Tass.ru.

“Strict adherence to the letter and spirit of the country’s constitution, respect for the choice of the Serbian people, who voted for the national interests of their country, is the only possible reaction,” she said.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said in an emergency message that the attempted storming of the Belgrade city administration building by supporters of the pro-Western opposition was caused by an external factor and was aimed at undermining the country’s sovereignty.

Earlier, the Serbian leader said that the opposition’s protests and provocative statements will have no result, as in the country “power changes only in elections.”

Thousands of people gathered on Sunday evening in Belgrade to demand the annulment of the results of the parliamentary and local elections.

On Sunday, police fired tear gas to disperse a crowd trying to enter Belgrade’s town hall, which houses the local election commission. Some protesters climbed into the building and broke windows. Others threw stones at the building.

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