Supporters of Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Russian President Vladimir Putin walk towards Belgrade’s Saint Sava Church on January 17, 2019.

Supporters of Serbian President and Russian President Vladimir Putin wait for their arrival in front of Belgrade’s Saint Sava Church on January 17, 2019. Russian President Vladimir Putin on January 17, 2019 called for stability in the Balkans during a pageantry-filled visit to Serbia, a key Moscow ally in a tense region on Europe’s edge. Although Serbia and all of its neighbours aspire to join the European Union, Belgrade has nurtured close ties with Russia, its historical “Orthodox big brother” whose people also share Slavic origins.

President of Russia Vladimir Putin is on the big screen in front of the Belgrade’s Saint Sava Church on January 17, 2019. Russian President Vladimir Putin on January 17, 2019 called for stability in the Balkans during a pageantry-filled visit to Serbia, a key Moscow ally in a tense region on Europe’s edge. Although Serbia and all of its neighbours aspire to join the European Union, Belgrade has nurtured close ties with Russia, its historical “Orthodox big brother” whose people also share Slavic origins.