The government of Serbia has reversed an expulsion order that would have resulted in a Russian woman, who had previously expressed opposition to the war in Ukraine, being forced to leave the country.
Elena Koposova, a literature translator originally from Russia, is one of several Russians living in Serbia after seeking refuge from Vladimir Putin’s administration. Koposova publically condemned the war in Ukraine by signing an open statement. Subsequently, on February 2, Koposova was informed that her temporary Serbian residence permit had been rescinded.
She spoke about this event in an interview with the Associated Press (AP), expressing that this was the first time she had faced any issues regarding her residency status. She further reported that the authorities had issued this decision citing “national security reasons” but did not provide further details.
The Russian Democratic Society in Serbia, a nonprofit organization that supports anti-war Russian expatriates, aided Koposova in challenging the eviction. While the expulsion was repealed, the organization has indicated that Koposova’s long-term residency problems are yet to be rectified.
Ever since the commencement of the Ukraine war, Serbia has remained one of the few European countries to maintain a close relationship with Russia. Late last February, a number of Serbian enterprises were blacklisted by the U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control for their activities supporting various segments of Russia’s military-industrial complex.