Activist against the war in Ukraine and founder of the Russian Democratic Society Peter Nikitin told Radio Free Europe that on July 13, he was denied entry into Serbia by a decision of the Security and Information Agency (BIA).

According to Nikitin, the border police at Belgrade’s “Nikola Tesla” airport issued a decision to prohibit his entry into Serbia.

According to the document that prohibits his entry, it states that “protective measures for expulsion, security measures for the expulsion of foreigners, namely the prohibition of entry into Serbia” are in effect against him.

“There is no other explanation, the police did not give me any other explanation. I will file a complaint about this. I will not move from the airport until they allow me to enter the country or forcibly deport me,” Nikitin said.

• How did the ban come about?

According to Nikitin, he was stopped at the airport upon his return from his annual vacation, in the early hours of July 13.

“Around half past midnight, they confiscated my passport at passport control and told me to wait. I asked several times what was happening. Four hours later, they told me that they received an order from the Security and Information Agency (BIA) that I should not enter the country,” he added.

He also emphasized that this is the “first time something like this has happened”.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Security and Information Agency have not yet responded to questions regarding why Nikitin was denied entry into Serbia.

• Who is Peter Nikitin?

Peter Nikitin is an anti-war activist and opponent of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s regime.

He is a Dutch citizen but has been living in Serbia since 2016.

He has been granted permanent residency in Serbia.

“I also have two children who are Serbian citizens. I live in Belgrade. I have nowhere else to go; my home is here, in Serbia,” he emphasized.

The Russian Democratic Society, one of whose founders is Nikitin, is an association of the Russian diaspora in Serbia, which has enlisted tens of thousands of Russians since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Members of the Russian Democratic Society oppose the invasion of Ukraine and have organized peace rallies in Serbia.

Nikitin has been targeted several times by right-wing movements and organizations due to organizing rallies in support of Ukraine.

• Nikitin was banned three days after sanctions against the director of BIA

The ban on the Russian anti-war activist at the airport came three days after the United States imposed sanctions on the director of the Security Intelligence Agency, Aleksandar Vulin.

Among other reasons, the United States mentioned Vulin’s ties to Russia.

The United States referred to Vulin’s actions as “destabilizing, which enables Russia’s malicious activities in the region”.

Vulin’s party, the Socialist Movement, which is part of the coalition with the Serbian Progressive Party in power, dismissed the accusations and criticized the United States.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić said that “it is extremely important to conduct an investigation” against Vulin after the United States imposed sanctions on him.

“I didn’t notice that cocaine was found in Vulin’s office, but in the White House. But I think it is extremely important to conduct an investigation,” Vučić said in his first reaction after the United States imposed sanctions on Vulin.