Russia Criticises Ukrainian Parliament Speaker for Turning Belgrade Conference into Anti-Russia Platform
Dragon Media News Desk
Russia has accused Verkhovna Rada Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk of using an international conference in Belgrade as a platform for anti-Russia propaganda.
Responding to a media question on July 11, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said representatives of the Kiev authorities rarely miss an opportunity to turn international events into anti-Russia showcases.
The first Conference of Speakers of Parliaments of European Union Candidate Countries was held in Belgrade on July 7 and 8. Stefanchuk, who attended the event, sharply criticised Russia and its leadership and called for increased support for the Ukrainian Armed Forces. His remarks triggered political controversy in Serbia.
According to Zakharova, Stefanchuk sought to exploit the conference platform to the fullest, setting the tone of the proceedings and making what she described as Russophobic propaganda the central theme of the event.
She said he portrayed Ukraine as the innocent victim of “comprehensive Russian aggression” while attempting to shift onto Russia responsibility for the suffering and destruction inflicted on what she described as a once-prosperous republic by the authorities in Kiev.
Zakharova added that Stefanchuk accused Russia of subjugating the peoples of Eastern Europe and obstructing their European aspirations.
She also said he specifically targeted relations between Russia and Serbia, arguing that Belgrade should stop looking toward Moscow from the position of a “younger brother.”
Zakharova described the Ukrainian speaker’s statements as neither original nor convincing, but merely lengthy repetitions of familiar narratives used by Kiev.
According to her, the remarks appeared to be based on the expectation that countries seeking EU membership would accept Ukraine’s position without question.
Russia expressed regret that the Serbian organisers did not provide what Moscow considered an appropriate response to Stefanchuk’s anti-Russia remarks.
Zakharova said Russia remained confident that the people of Serbia understood the true nature of those currently in power in Ukraine.
She accused the Ukrainian leadership of systematically undermining its own country’s history, culture and people at the direction of its European patrons.
