Serbia is a relatively safe destination for tourists, with a crime rate close to the lowest in Europe. However, travelers from North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, or other countries must have valid passports at the time of entry. A tourist visa is required for up to 90 days in a 6-month period, but a visa is needed for other situations.
Before planning any international travel, it is important to review the CDC’s specific recommendations for fully vaccinated and unvaccinated travelers. Additionally, exercise normal safety precautions, including obtaining a valid travel document or identity card if provided under a bilateral agreement or by a decision of the Government of the Republic of Serbia.
The US State Department recommends increased caution due to crime in Serbia, as street crime is low. The current U.S. Department of State Travel Advisory for Serbia is Level 3: Reconsider Travel. Petty crime such as bag snatching, passport theft, and pickpocketing occurs in tourist areas, larger cities, and on public transport.
Despite the ongoing protests, Serbia is relatively safe when it comes to crime. Travelers should exercise normal safety precautions and be aware of potential traffic restrictions. The country is slowly emerging from years of war and internal security issues, but excluding some parts of the city that will be blocked for traffic, it should be all fine.
📹 Belgrade Serbia- Is it Safe?
Belgrade Serbia- Is it Safe?” Is it Safe for Tourists? ” One of the questions that most foreigners have regarding a country that they …
Can you speak Russian in Serbia?
Serbia has one official language, Serbian, which is the national language of Serbia. Other languages spoken in Serbia include Hungarian, Bosnian, and Croatian. The Autonomous Province of Vojvodina has six official languages, while the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija has two: Albanian and Serbian. The Serbian language is the dominant language in most of Serbia, with Bosnian and Croatian languages being nearly identical to Serbian.
The Serbian language has several dialects, including Šumadija-Vojvodina and Eastern Herzegovina, which form the basis for modern standard Serbian. The Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija also has two official languages: Albanian and Serbian.
What do Americans think about Serbia?
The US aims to secure Serbia’s inclusion in the stable Balkan region by supporting its integration into European institutions, normalizing relations with Kosovo, strengthening rule of law, partnering on security issues, and promoting economic growth.
How safe is Belgrade for tourists?
Belgrade, Serbia, is known for its low street crime rates, but pick-pocketing and purse snatchings are common, particularly among tourists. To protect their belongings, travelers should keep them on at all times and never leave them out of sight. Unlocked cars, items left in plain sight, open gates, and garage doors are also attractive targets for thieves. Bribery has become a common practice in Serbia, with two-thirds of survey respondents having been asked for a bribe and 50 offering one.
Is Serbia friendly to Russia?
Russia-Serbia relations are bilateral foreign relations between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Serbia, established in 1816 as the Russian Empire and Principality of Serbia. Russia has an honorary consulate and embassy in Belgrade and a liaison office to UNMIK, the capital of the disputed territory of Kosovo. Serbia has an embassy in Moscow, an honorary consulate in St. Petersburg, and has announced to open a consulate-general in Yekaterinburg.
Both countries are Slavic and Eastern Orthodox Christian countries, sharing a notable cultural heritage. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia recognized Russia in December 1991.
Does Serbia support Russia?
The 2011 census revealed 3, 247 ethnic Russians living in Serbia and 3, 510 Serbs with Russian citizenship. Russia and Serbia are predominantly Slavic and Eastern Orthodox countries, with a strong mutual cultural affinity. The countries have been close allies for centuries, and their friendship has been maintained despite Serbia’s recent attempts to maintain closer relations with the West. After the Ottoman invasion of Serbia in the 14th century, Serbian refugees found refuge in Russia.
Notable Serbs in Russian medieval history include Lazar the Serb and Pachomius the Serb. The Orthodox worship of Saint Sava was established in Russia in the 16th century. In the 1750s, Orthodox Serbs settled in Russia’s military frontier region of New Serbia and Slavo-Serbia, which were incorporated into Russia’s Novorossiya Governorate in 1764.
Can US citizens go to Serbia?
American citizens do not need visas to travel to the Republic of Serbia, but holders of U. S. Travel Documents (Permit to Re-enter, Refugee Travel Document) require a visa. Foreign nationals with a valid US visa or lawful residence in the United States (green card) may enter the Republic of Serbia without a visa and stay no longer than 90 days within a six-month period. Valid Schengen visa, UK visa, or other European Union member-states visa may also enter the Republic of Serbia without a visa and stay longer than 90 days within a six-month period. This option is valid starting November 8th, 2014.
Visas for short stays are issued for tourist, business, and other travel, with continuous residence of an alien with a short stay visa or a total length of consecutive stays limited to 90 days within six months from the date of first entry. Visas for short stays with multiple entries have a validity period of up to one year.
Is Serbia safe for American tourists?
Petty crimes like pickpocketing and bag snatching are common in crowded places, targeting foreigners. It’s crucial to pay attention to personal belongings, carry only what’s necessary, and keep bags and backpacks in front of you. Violent crime, often linked to organized crime, is not directed at foreigners but has led to violent and fatal attacks, especially late at night.
Is it safe to fly to Serbia now?
The U. S. Department of State Travel Advisory for Serbia is Level 3: Reconsider Travel. As of April 5, the Serbian Ministry of Health announced 621, 375 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 5, 497 deaths. 13, 974 people have been tested in the past 24 hours, with 3, 706 confirmed cases. An estimated 7, 839 hospitalized cases are in Serbia. Additional measures are in effect from April 5, including allowing businesses and services to operate from 6:00 a.
M. to 10:00 p. m., limiting cafes, bars, and restaurants with gardens and patios to outdoor operations with strict epidemiological measures, and limiting live music performances in gardens and patios. Shopping malls, cafes, bars, and restaurants without gardens and patios remain closed, but take-away food and drinks can be sold over the counter. Facilities must provide a minimum of 9 m2 per person, except for fitness centers, spa centers, gyms, and similar facilities. Pharmacies, gas stations, laboratories, medical and veterinarian offices can remain open 24/7.
Is Serbia safe for English?
Terrorist attacks in Serbia are a possibility, with potential indiscriminate attacks, including targeting foreigners and religious sites. Increased security measures may be in place during festive periods and major events. In June 2024, a lone attacker attacked a police officer outside the Israeli Embassy in Belgrade. Political instability is also a concern, with mass gatherings in Belgrade and other cities planned since May 2023, potentially disrupting public transport. To reduce personal risk, individuals should remain vigilant and follow local authorities’ advice.
Is it safe for a woman to travel to Serbia?
Serbia is a safe, multicultural, and multiconfessional country with no religious prejudices or cultural restrictions. Solo travelers can enjoy a relaxed atmosphere in Novi Sad, a city less than 100 km from Belgrade. Novi Sad is known for its relaxed atmosphere, museums, galleries, and the Petrovaradin Fortress. Visitors should visit the museums that preserve the city’s cultural and historical heritage, such as the Matica Srpska Gallery, Pavle Beljanski Memorial Collection, and the 18th-century Fortress built on the Danube.
What level of danger is Serbia?
Serbia’s Bureau of Consular Affairs has issued a warning about increased caution due to the prevalence of violence linked to organized crime and high-profile sporting events.
📹 This is Serbia the media won’t show you | Redacted with Clayton Morris
Serbia is a country caught in the middle of the conflict between Nato and Russia over the war in Ukraine. Serbia knows all too well …
When it comes to Europe, having been travelled to almost all countries in Europe myself, I feel a lot safer in the eastern parts of Europe than the west. Like you say about americans I would say the same about western and northern europeans views regarding eastern Europe. I have heard so much crap prior to my trips too eastern Europe, and of course always from people who have never travelled there. 🙂
I live here in Belgrade last 10 years since i came to study at University, and i didn’t even experience someone pickpocket me in bus or something like that, so Belgrade, and even more rest of Serbia, is the safest you can get for a big city anywhere in the world. Of course there is crime, drugs and all, but if you are not involved in it nobody will do you any harm. In general whole Europe is pretty similar in that matter, i would even say Western Europe is less safe since there are many immigrants who are not adjusted/integrated into society so getting robbed, or even terrorist attacks (here its nonexistent), is more common in big cities in the West. As for pickpockets, just use common sense, don’t go around with open purse (and i see that everyday), or phone/wallet in your back pocket, or with large amount of cash, they basically always focus on easy targets.
In Serbia, it is illegal to carry guns without a special license which is issued only to police, security and in very few cases to people who fear for their life. Re gun ownership, Serbia isn’t exactly the 2nd, more like 7th, but way behind the USA. 39.6 firearms are registered per every 100 civilians, but in reality, a few people have firearms.
One thing, there are not unsafe and safe areas, all areas are safe, you can walk normally after midinght and enjoy the air, also you can see people do it, teenagers, elderly and families, all ages. Here we do not have class system yet, and everyone live together, no safe and unsafe zones, or bad parts or good parts of city.
Belgrade is very safe, except for organized crime gangs- drug trafficking, but they are very good shooters, never hit anyone except other gang members, even if this happends you will read in the newspapers once in a few months, dont worry you are not targeted. I was putting flyers on parked cars after the midnight for years and there was no problem in my 10 years of experience.
There are areas of the city that you wouldnt go alone,at night???Which ones lololololol Just a pointer about the safety lvl in Belgrade – there has been a total of 7 mugging in the year 2020,in a city of 2m ppl😂😂😂😂 Kalemegdan overrun by pickpockets and purse snatchers?BS. Arms-yes,we do have the right to bear arms,but getting a permit to just own a personal gun is very,very hard to obtain,let alone getting one to carry your gun-almost impossible.Also,only type allowed are handguns-pistols and revolvers.No semi-auto rifles or machine guns,nada. We need the permits for hunting rifles too,only the regular ones are allowed,and permits are also not easily obtainable. On the other hand,yes,we do like guns as much as americans do,maybe even more.We have a saying-three things you never loan/give to anyone,your gun,your horse and your woman 😎
I live in a city 50km away from Belgrade. Once, I missed my bus and I was walking all night with my girlfriend through Belgrade. We were at Kalemegdan fortress (you can see some gay people in a group or some couples making love, rather than being robbed, even though there are very isolated places in the fortress), on the river Danube shore, and nothing bad happened. So, Belgrade is completely safe, no matter when and where you go. Of course, you can stay without your wallet, some pickpockets can do their job, but it is very rare. I’ve never had that experience in my life. If we talk about murders, they are not robbery motivated, they are a fight of drunk people or some traffic fights, and among people who have some personal business to resolve. There are no random attacks or attacks just to rob somebody. We had some serious murders in the past (in the last 9 months we had none), because the two Montenegrin mafia groups killed each other on our streets. But, not anymore. And you are right, we have A LOT OF WEAPONS. Yes, we are in the top 5 countries in the world if we talk about guns. But it is not our culture to solve things with guns. Maybe the USA people are so scared for their lives and they use guns easily, our laws don’t let you use the gun even when you want to defend your home. We don’t let people kill somebody just because he stepped on his porch. Belgrade is totally safe, my 15-year-old daughter is at high school in Belgrade and I don’t worry at all.
Gun ownership is NOT high among regular civilians. Countrysides have HUNTING CLUBS and there is a larger number of policemen and security, those are the ones that raise this statistic. But for a regular civilian it is not an easy thing to possess a gun legally, and carrying is absolutely forbidden. Households in the countryside usually have some guns stashed somewhere, but overall usage and danger is minimal.
i will say that in my opinion, humble though it is, the parts of belgrade you would not go to ‘at night’ based on how the neighborhood looks, is just as safe as any other part of the city. it just has less lipstick and doesn’t look as pretty and it might have more graffiti or unpicked up garbage, which in an american mind, based on the realities of our cities, subconsciously, tells them a place is unsafe. but these less attractive areas with more graffiti and more garbage on the ground and less attractive architecture and shop facades are just as safe as any other place in belgrade. there are no dangerous neighborhoods there. this concept is very difficult for americans to comprehend, but it is true. there are neighborhoods that don’t look pretty and they are just as safe as the better looking places and more lively hot spots. what you are right about is that it is not impossible for something dangerous to happen because of the size of the city but it is every bit as unlikely to happen, usually, in an unattractive area as an attractive one. and the pickpockets are all over europe in every major city so there is always that no matter where you go. i hope i don’t sound too argumentative.
Let me say : There is absolutely no place at broad metropolitan Belgrade where you should feel unsafe. It’s just in your head, actually in your safe related opinions. If you get yourself at 03:00 in the morning, say, 10 miles out of city center, there is absolutely no reason to feel unsafe. That’s fact. And, corruption stories are bullshit, some sort of that behavior is way out of your status and possible experience as a expat or long staying tourist.
I’m a Turkish guy myself, I lived in Belgrade for 2 months, and met many Serbian folks in other parts of Europe. I saw nothing but kindness, fun and warmth from the Serbs- they are one of my favorite people, very genuine and humble. P.S.: they became super hyped when i unexpectedly sing a line from Bijelo Dugme 🙂
I travelled from Serbia from Turkey. At first it reminded me of Europe and looked like the Austro-Hungarian empire, but after a few days I realized that Serbs are like Turks in the way that you can feel the respect that people have for each other there. Western countries just don’t have that. Everyone only cares about himself.
I visited Serbia many times between 1990 and 2015 on business trips. The people are well educated and open and friendly. I have a lot of good memories. The 1999 war was a criminal act, planned years before ist started. NATO did not really attack the army but destroyed a whole lot of factories and infrastructure. To repeat it. It was a criminal act based on lies and the perpetrators should go behind bars forever.
We know people from Serbia, they are the kindest people. We are Dutch and they come several times a year to the Netherlands to our home and they always take a big bag of potato chips with them when they come here that we love and can’t get here in our country, it says “deblje rezan za puniji ukus” and those are from Chipsy and very nice, great taste.
It’s amazing how beautiful Serbia is. The parks and places you went to are amazing and the people you spoke with are too. Hard to believe that wars were going on there. Thanks Clayton and Natali for sharing your experience there. It was beautiful and honest. You are both awesome and we know we are seeing honesty and truthfulness. You are both loved by many people.
I am an American living in Europe and I have visited Belgrade twice for a total of three weeks. What I found amazing is nobody was in my way and I was not in my way. For me, it had the perfect pace and it is my favorite European city. Regarding Ukraine and Putin, I have a question that nobody in the west seems to know the answer. The Ukraine military was shelling civilians in Southern Ukraine for seven years and thousands of civilians died. Nothing could get Ukraine to stop so Putin had to find a way to stop the shelling. Biden could have stopped US aid until Ukraine agreed to abide by Minsk peace agreements but he didn’t.
Love Serbia from America, our Governments may be very different but our people our alike. Just like you we value personal Liberty and we will defend our rights. Americans would happily fight along side you people against Globalism and Socialism. Here in America the same party that bombed your cities is trying to take our liberties, they won’t succeed!
It is much safer for brother Serbians not to let their country join the European Union ( as that means losing their national sovereignty and independence and eventually subject themselves in financial slavery). It much more wise to choose a special financial and customs treaty as a way to enhance their country development.
If London, Berlin, Brussels, Paris, and New York suffered 78 days of aerial bombardment from an enemy that we were powerless to defend ourselves against, then perhaps citizens of NATO countries would feel differently about our actions toward non NATO countries and our relentless expansion towards Russia and China.
It’s either like Russia ( who only helped us during many wars ) or like the west who bombed us ~ 20 years ago(!) and who declared our southern province as independent ( which is the strongest argument in Putin’s mouth now when it comes to declaring Dombass regions as independent )… The choice is clear for us Serbs!
The fact that you have a lot of Serbian subscribers should tell you how much Serbian people love all aspects of freedom, including information and freedom of expression. Serbians always love to know the truth. We are free to express our opinions and we are not afraid of judgement. Thank you for opening Serbian door. You will find surprising facts about your own governments. Only now after 30 years we can understand what was going on in those years. You will also find how much your freedom is limited.
Hi, thanks for visiting my country and my city. Well, NATO bombing in 1999 was not the first time that western countries bombed us. From October the 20th 1943 till September 17th 1944 western countrues, our allies in 2nd world war bombed us also. Russia never attacked or bombed us. Thats why we love russians. And that is not only reason. We share the same religion. So…since NATO destroyed our country, Yugoslavia, we learned to understand what is next move of western countries…what is agenda of new world order.
As a Romanian visiting Nis, I was impressed by a whole audience of highly educated people getting tears in eyes when listening a song Уснила је дубок санак са Косова Рада, Па се своме милом драгом у наручју јада, Па се своме милом драгом у наручју јада. Хеј Драги, Драги божурове сади, Ја ћу воду а ти корен нек изникну млади, Ја ћу воду а ти корен нек изникну млади. Zively Srbia !
I’m half Românian and half serbian, grew up in România, and I must say I’ve never been so welcomed as in România, when I tell them what I’m, their voices change and become like I’m a long lost brother . I can not explain the feelings the romanians have for Serbian people . When I meet the Serbian side, they never forgot that romanains were the only ones helping them, contraband with petrol or the humanitarian help . They will never forgive the aggression of Nato. Now that they’ve showed the mass Graves evidences were fabricated . And yes they have that proverb saying that ” we have only two friends, the serbians and Black Sea” Serbia is Kosova !!!
I am moving to Serbia soon from Australia to be with my Mrs and I can’t wait. Re Serbia wanting to join the EU, that is what they say and they don’t really want to. And they won’t. The EU will fall apart before Serbia joins the EU. My understanding from friends who I have spoken with, in Serbia say they are pro-Putin yet at the same time, somewhat disappointed in some things he has said and/or done, so they are overall on his side yet not totally happy with him.
I am Chinese and I will arrive in Serbia next week. In 1999 when I was 16 years old, the US bombed the Chinese embassy in Serbia, and three people died. At that time, all Chinese hated NATO, the US. Now I think human beings are all ridiculous, they are all animals, they fight for food, they get fat when they are full, and they lose weight when they are not full, but there are always cruel guys who want other animals to die, this is all human nature, animal nature, what Neither can be changed.
The difference between Serbia and “the West and the Russia,” as two extremes, is that you can talk out loud both against Russia and NATO, in the newspapers, with friends, on social medias… and nobody will hurt you for that. Moreover, you will find like-minded people whatever your opinion is about anything.
Im a brit but i have a lot of affection for Serbia and Belgrade especially, I have been there 5 times in total last visit was nearly 3 years ago now but i will return soon. I met a lady there who i still love very deeply and talk with multiple times a week. I hope you checked out a lake called savsko jezero its wonderful this time of the year. Skadarlija, Knez mihailova, Saint cava temple and the fortress are all other “must do’s” on a visit there too. hope you had a great time
I am not sure what you expected the Serbians to think of the war. What Russia does to the Ukraine, is what the NATO and the US did to Serbia – but back then they were okay with it. To say Serbians feelings are “mixed” about the NATO and the US is a stark understatement. Nobody there supports any kind of war, but sympathy for NATO and the US is…let’s say “people are being polite”…
During minute 2:00 you passed by 2 mid aged men playing Chess on a street bench. Now, read slowly: those 2 men illustrate the sharpest clearest difference between European & U.S. Cultures. 19 years I’ve lived & worked in the USA and NEVER was lucky to see 2 men on a city bench playing Chess…or any game. No need for further comments.
I think it’s great that you went there, talked to the citizins, listened. Thank you for showing us your adventrue and clearifying that “the world” is not against President Putin, as there are many other countries that are pro Russian as well. This was very well done. I lived in Russia for 3 years, and that changed my life.. I fell in love with Russia. (and my wife) Sometimes I’m very sad that the west will never know and understand Russia. The agressors have alsways been u.s, and the west, and that also.. people seem lost on… they can’t reason it out.
Love your show. Thanks for visiting my home city, come again. We all know of Julian Assange (who is Nelson Mandela of journalism and should be freed ASAP), but did you know that for the first time in history, journalists were designated as “legitimate targets” by NATO. 16 journalists of Serbian national TV were killed in their work place?
We don’t want EU membership, the people are totally against it. And any sane person who knows their way mildly around politics would be against it. Russia and Serbia are brother nations. Russia is the only country that spoke out against NATO aggression on us. However they were in deep problems back then and couldn’t help militarily. Not to mention the anti-faschist history we had, and the dire suffering that both people survived by the hands of Nazis, and both orthodox countries. We won’t forget that the Russian Empire stepped into the war in 1914 to stop German and Austrian aggression on Serbia. We are deeply bound by culture and history and values, and these bonds won’t be broken so easily by any superpower wishing world domination. Here in Republika Srpska (Bosnia&Herzegovina) we are very aware of what is happening in Ukraine. A bloody civil war erupted against the Russian speaking and anti-coup established government (put in place by the US powers) that was seeking to destroy their cultural heritage, and exile those who didn’t want to assimilate. Russia didn’t start this war, it merely joined in the middle of it to help their Russian brothers, after all peace talks and peace deals were sabotaged and broken by the Ukrainian side time and time again.
Thank-you for this. My father drove us from Turkey to Italy to see family in the 70’s. We drove through Belgrade and spent one night. The people we met were wonderful. My Dad was active American Army at that time. As a son and brother to war veterans I too am sick of war. To think we are are a supposedly progressive society yet send young people to die for old power hungry rulers is astounding to me. This government of mine needs a serious head check because war not only affects the fighting men and women but exacts a toll psychologically on the families left behind that live through the hell with them. This cannot be the way.
Interesting statement by Natali in the end of this report from Serbia. Especially when you mentioned that people in general just repeat what the read in the main stream newspapers and only one opinion is allowed: the view Nato has. That’s the reason why redacted is so important and why you two do such a great job.
I’m following you guys from the start of Ukraine conflict and lemme tell you. I’m from Pancevo, right next to Belgrade, and to sum up collective toughts of our people. If we were forced to join NATO, like we were back then to sign that Kosovo is independent state, OR ELSE… we would take that ELSE anytime, becouse we learned what NATO’s real purpose is and now we have one more holiday to celebrate… Madeleine Albright date of death, the day before bombing started. Keep that work guys you are incredible!
Crazy world…I remember having dinner as a child in a restaurant in the next village named “Beograd” in the late 60s (in Germany). The owner certainly was a Serbian; as I grew older and found out more about WW II I realized that the fathers and uncles of these “guest workers” from Yugoslavia (there were quite a few as Yugoslavs were the only people from the Balkans and Eastern Europe who could travel freely and work elsewhere) had fought as soldiers and as partisans against the German army and also against their Croatian neighbours who traditionally were catholic and allied with the Axis powers. Unsdescribable atrocities happened on all sides and 25 years later member of all these peoples meet in Germany peacefully leading normal lives…. And then in 1999 our left/green government decides to join the NATO attacks on Serbia – for the first time after the great war Germans were bombarding another country although 5 or 10 years earlier EVERY German politician would have stated that this will never happen again !! How I despise the Green Party and the Social Democrats “Wer hat uns verraten – Sozialdemokraten” translates into “who betrayed us – Social democrats” — old saying from post WW I………
Well, I do hope that people who watch your article do in fact understand that nobody in Serbia is happy about what is happening to people in Ukraine, given we never had any type of conflict with Ukraine ever in our history. However, people also need to understand that NATO destroyed Serbia in ’99, not just Belgrade, without any compassion for the fact that most people in Serbia were already heavily against Milosevic and his socialist, dictatorship, reign. Many civilians died also, but that is not mentioned almost never. So, it’s a bit hypocritical for other countries to ask Serbia to like and/or support NATO in any form.
Great trip and interesting viewpoint from Serbians. Congrats to you two for doing the unpopular job of giving a balanced account of the situation in Ukraine. Can you please get me a Putin t-shirt? I’d like to see how long I can survive wearing a t-shirt like that before being attacked in the streets of the oh-so-tolerant Western cities…
Clayton I’ve been a fan since the days when you we’re at fox. In this day of propaganda and socialism in the United States, which I still have trouble wrapping my head around having grown up in a free country. Thank you and Natalie for bringing the truth. It’s truly a breath of fresh air in these extraordinary times we live in
This must have been an amazing trip. Would have been more so if you had the opportunity to stop by in Bulgaria as well. My country, which very much so shares the same view. Unfortunately, the American government has installed a puppet government to serve their purpose. They have been rubbing us in every aspect for the past 32 years. Hope to shake off their presence and influence on the next elections. I love your show and I think you guys are amazing! It saddens me how the American people can not see what’s going on and how they are being manipulated in believing the narrative that is been fed to them. Hope that more people would wake up to the truth! Including my children who are half American and we are deeply divided on world views. They think of me as a conspiracy theorist as they believe in their government and the “democracy” they spread around the world.
Loved seeing you visit the city of my birth (I’ve lived in Canada most of my life).. I have to say, I’m proud of Serbia for being the only sovereign country left in Europe- still a place where people can express a variety of views without being gagged. This freedom was hard won – hope they keep resisting the forced collectivism of US-led NATO. Great content!
I am 60 years old now. I was born in N.Ireland to parents from either side of the (so called) political divide. I had a lot of interesting times for sure.The one thing I know for sure is this, most people are basically good . But our leaders, both political and religious, are the main cause of division and hatred. And this division and hate is planted quite simply to get more power and wealth. The pointless and needless pain and destruction they have seeded and watered,to make it grow, through out human history, is truly beyond comprehension. This existence is painful enough without all this BS.
The problem with getting a feel for how Serbians think is that the younger generations, who speak English, have grown up on Western media and don’t remember 1999, and that the older generations who do remember, and who’ve seen the lies in Western propaganda with their own eyes and recognise them now, can’t tell you about it because their English is poor to non-existant. I’m a 42-year-old Serbian born and raised in Sweden, who grew up on Western propaganda (I believed it back then) and only later became a global political junkie and had a thorough political awakening, Noam Chomsky and Michael Hudson style, and while I wasn’t IN Serbia at the time of the bombing, and though I believed the official Western narrative about why it was happening at the time, I’m furious about it NOW. And what I’m furious about is not so much the bombing as the LIES. I remember the callous things I said to people who were victims, from my ignorant, propagandised Western perspective, and it makes me want to scream. I remember dismissing my parents when they tried to point out the truth to me. Footage of a mass funeral on Swedish TV news being presented as the funeral of Bosnian muslims murdered by the Serbs when there were Orthodox priests, Serbian priests, presiding over the ceremony! A f**king smoking gun that my parents pointed out to me, that I saw with my own eyes, and I dismissed it as just an honest mistake. Because propagandised teenagers refuse to listen. So I have zero patience for the Western narrative regarding Russia.
For Russia, Serbia is the cradle of Russian culture and civilization. That’s beyond just some political affinity with Putin whatsoever. Russians and Serbians are fundamentally the same people, the same culture. They’re brothers! Serbians felt very sad when Yeltsin’s Russia didn’t come to their rescue in 1999. Putin was not the leader by then. Nevertheless they remain deeply attached to Russia. It’s not about politically siding against the americans at all. It’s brotherhood, cultural solidarity and identity.
Hey guys, thank you so much for being something I thought is lost for a long time: neutral journalism. I think current Serbia is defining democracy very well: we let everyone have their opinion but do not force anyone to pick the “only true side”. I think this is a very rare thing to have if you look on a global scale at how countries are forced to pick the Western side or else………. same happened to us in 1999 it didn’t crush us and never will. The world has to protect entities and countries like that who are searching for the truth (cheers to Tom Macdonald). And when I found you guys on youtube I was really relieved that there are still stars shining and willing to uncover the truth, even if someone does not like it. Keep it up, I love you!
I’m Serbian who lives in Canada presently speaking 4 languages. I’ve posted comment then I read all comments. While I was reading I was crying like baby seeing how beautifully people think about my lovely Serbia.😢 I’m GOING BACK in NEXT 2 years and I’m presently working on documentation. Bank’s contracts don’t let me leave before otherwise I would be returned this year. I’m tired listening around the clock anti Russian, Chinese and Serbian Propaganda. ❤️🇷🇸🇷🇺🇨🇳❤
Love what I see here about people’s views about Russia, Ukraine, NATO in Serbia and seeing Clayton here in Serbia experiencing Serbia, it’s places, the food there and the culture there. Love articles like this for these kinds of articles make me feel like I am almost there in person experiencing the places and cultures.
Thank you for a nuanced picture of Belgrade. It’s not easy living in the crossroads of east and west but serbia does a good job I think. I encurrage everybody to look at Oliver Stones documentary on Ukraine. Btw it was not only Belgrade that got bombed in 1999 it was allmost all of serbia and people still die from cancer after the bombs with depleted uranium. So yes it’s still present in peoples minds.
As a 6th grader, I visited my aunts and uncles and many cousins in Serbia(Yugoslavia then) in 1980 and was there for the whole summer. I’ve always spoken the language because both my parents immigrated to America. My dad in the 50’s and my mom in 1966. There’s tons of articles on Youtube with Americans visiting Serbia and some even living there, and it’s not surprising most Serbs speak English pretty decently, especially the younger generations. Even my cousins in 1980 were learning English in their grammar schools there.
Thank you for the tour of beautiful Serbia and her people. I am not sure why would Serbs want to become a member of the EUssr, while other Europeans want to leave it. You join such Union, you get dictated by unelected bureaucrats in Brussels on what to do with your borders, your society and your culture, how to live and what have you. Your president or prime minister will have as much power as a mayor in an remote village. You would lose your sovereignty.
Strong historical, and cultural bonds have existed between Serbia, and Russia for centuries. This fact, is what caused the conflict between Austria-Hungary, and Serbia, to expand into a global conflict in 1914. One thing is clear: The USA had NO moral right to bomb Belgrade in 1992. This act only drove the Serbians deeper into the arms of “Mother Russia”.
I wouldn’t describe myself as a particularly wise and knowledgeable person, but it does seem clear to me that people living in the West under the influence of Western media – even those who seem to present the most pacific and balanced views – generally have a VERY skewed point of view when it comes to the feelings and views of people living in and near ex-Soviet territories. The Western legacy media is a beast of enormous size, insidious influence and has tentacles that can reach everywhere, often without even being noticed. It’s a true badass, but its power can and IS being taken from it by guys like you. So here’s to you and all those like you with the cahonas and incorruptible natures needed to properly democratize the media.
Being Serbian myself, and having lived thru the wars, I can only say that talking about morality of both NATO’s and Russia’s (or future Chinese) actions is irrelevant. Ukrainian leadership since 2014 led it’s people into this tragedy by allowing itself to become a proxy against Russia only to end up being abandoned like dogs – much like Serbian leadership in the 1990’s, with their abysmal indecisiveness and overall cluelessness of the times they were in, led Serbian people into a national catastrophe. And now, much like Yugoslavia, Ukraine will cease to exist, I’m fairly certain that Poland will in the end take it’s own cut of Ukrainian territory, and a great tragedy will befall a nation that truly did not deserve it. And then, when this war is over, we will have the next thing, where ever it may be.
Welcome to Eastern Europe. It’s another ball game over here. Turning on the news on February 24th was a shocker from my Moscow dormitory. I’ve had the pleasure of meeting many Serbs here in Russia since 2014 when I moved here. They’re super pro Russian. There’s a strong Slav brotherhood that transcends international borders. Keep up the good reporting guys.
Thank you for your feet on the ground real honest report how refreshing and interesting & varied public views. The west as you’ve now experienced by comparison is in a constructed capsule of behavioural manipulation, removing people’s culture gains them success in that regard. It was especially interesting to me as I was in Belgrade 2000 and the building opposite although functional still had mortar damage. I’d like to think leave it like it is to serve as a reminder as to what NATO can get up to at any particular whim. This is a loose loose concept, it needs to go in my opinion.
You are one of the best and bravest investigative journalists on the planet. I am glad that you visited my Serbia because it has always been at the epicenter of all the most important world events and I hope that you will come again and explore a little more the aggression that the West has been carrying out against the Serbian people for centuries and on a huge scale for the last 150 years without interruption.
A few corrections if I may. Serbias EU path started much earlier then 2014. 2014 was the year Serbia was given the status of candidate country, however we first applied to join the EU back in early 2000s. Also we are not doing well with the war at all, prices are skyrocketing while our salaries have remained the same so the overall standard of living has dropped. Also I am curious why are Americans always fascinated that we “still remember” the 1999 bombings? It didn’t happen a 100 years ago, it hasn’t even been 25 years since it happened, why wouldn’t we remember it? Everyone in USA remembers the 9/11 and the two events are only 3 years apart. Hope you enjoyed your stay in Serbia, wish you all the best.
One day there were problems in one big, big country. Riots broke out on its southern borders, in a neighboring country, and part of the northeastern territories declared independence from this southern country. They had close ties with a big northern neighbor, one language and one vision of the future for themselves and their children. But in the southern country, they were denied equal rights and the opportunity to speak their native language and do business with their fellow tribesmen in the north. The southern country refused to recognize the independence of the northeast and launched a military operation, calling the people living there rebels and rioters. Volunteers arrived from the north to the rebellious lands, brought food supplies and took out the refugees. The leadership of the northern country refused to recognize the independence of the neighbor’s territories and accept them into its own country, fearing military action and deterioration of relations with the whole world. But eight years have passed and nothing has changed.The Northeastern Territories continued to consider themselves independent of their former master, the Southern Country. The Northern country, seeing that the situation was not resolved, decided to recognize these territories and take them into its possession. Then the southern neighbor blocked access to water to the northeastern territories and blocked trade. The society of the Northern Country has split. Someone shouted that it was time to punish these damned southerners, and someone said that we do not need these northeastern territories at all and it is not worth fighting with the whole world because of them.
NATO’s aggression against Serbia seized and occupied Kosovo as part of the medieval territory of Serbia, and the heart of Serbian culture and spirituality. 95% of religious buildings in Kosovo are owned by the Serbian Orthodox Church. Albanians are only formal vassals of the NATO-US occupation. Kosovo is not the right intentional name for the territory that was stolen from Serbia. The real name of what is called KOSOVO today is KOSMET, an abbreviated name, the first three letters of the canton of Kosovo and Metohia. Metohia, which is half of the so-called of the state of Kosovo is the exclusive property of the Serbian Orthodox Church. According this, every country in the world has the right to nationalize the private property of any religious group. Is it US democracy and international justice?