Russia and Western Balkans 1999—2019. The Rise of Populism and Hybrid Warfare

The ongo- ing enlargement and the signing of the Treaty of Athens in April 2003 inspire and encourage the countries of the Western Balkans to follow the same successful path. [...] Following the EU integration of Croatia in 2013, and the signing of the Brussels Agreement between Serbia and Ko- sovo, aimed at ensuring a peaceful solution and mutual recognition, the obstruction of the EU and NATO integration of the rest of the Western Balkans became Russia’s priority. [...] Formal level of Russian in- fluence is through the direct decision making powers in the functioning of the Of- fice of the High Representative (OHR), the international representative in BiH whose primary mandate is to monitor the implementation of the peace settlement through being a part of the Steering Board of the Peace Implementation Council. [...] Another tool of destabilization become the Democratic Party of the Serbs, included in ruling coalition with the VMRO-DPMNE.13 Russia was de- scribing the ethnic relations in Macedonia as the result of foreign interference de- 12 In 2017, 14% thought that Russia would be the best ally, comparing with the 42% for the EU and 17% for the US, and the opinion on who had the most significant influence, 4. [...] Rus- sia was using the disappointments of the post-communist transition, the religious influence of the Orthodox Church, and the crisis in the EU.