Who is hosting Russian paramilitary camps in Serbia? Arrests shed light on secret network

An in-depth investigation by BIRN has revealed the existence of a pro-Russian paramilitary training camp on the territory of Serbia, where more than 150 Moldovan and Romanian citizens were trained between July and September 2025 with the aim of preparing destabilizing scenarios in Moldova, following the elections to be held on Sunday, September 30.

According to BIRN, the training took place at the “Suncana Reka” complex, a tourist resort on the banks of the Drin River, located in the municipality of Banja Kovillacsa. This location has served as an operational base for tactical exercises and simulations of violent protests, while the organizers are suspected of being directly linked to pro-Russian groups operating in the region.

Two Serbian citizens – Lazar Popović (37 years old) from Belgrade and Savo Stevanović (47 years old) from Loznica – have been arrested by Serbian authorities and taken to the High Public Prosecutor’s Office in Šabac. The arrests were made following a joint operation by the Department for Combating Terrorism, the BIA and the Military Security Agency.

During the raids, police seized electronic communication and surveillance equipment, such as laptops, mobile phones, and a device for monitoring radio signals. One of the arrested was also in possession of an unlicensed weapon, which adds to the charges of trafficking and illegal possession of weapons and explosive materials.

The lawyer for one of the arrested men told BIRN that his client remained silent during questioning and that the case is "extremely complex."

BIRN’s investigations show that the camp’s activities were linked to the “Serbian-Russian Friendship” association – an organization known for its openly pro-Kremlin stances. Among the names mentioned are Milivoje Miletic, former director of the “Viscoza” company, and Zoran Mirkovic, owner of the “Sunčana Reka” complex and a member of this association.

This organizational structure, supported by influential local elements, has facilitated the training of participants, while the activities have been carried out for weeks without any interference from the Serbian authorities – which has caused harsh reactions in public opinion and the political opposition.

The deputy leader of the Freedom and Justice Party, Marinika Tepic, has raised serious doubts about the role of the Serbian authorities. According to her, it is absurd that the intelligence and security agencies that “monitor the opposition and student activists” have not noticed an operation of this magnitude, where hundreds of foreigners were trained for destabilizing scenarios.

She emphasizes that only after the public statement of the Moldovan president and pressure from the opposition in Serbia did the authorities react with arrests, raising the question of whether the state leadership - including President Aleksandar Vučić - was informed from the beginning.

For this reason, Tepic has demanded the immediate resignation of the leaders of the BIA, VBA, the police director, and the interior minister.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić has denied any state involvement in the activities, saying authorities acted in accordance with the law. However, many analysts see his response as an attempt to neutralize the international impact of the scandal and avoid facing diplomatic consequences.

Dragana Filipović from the Forum for International Relations says the case sets a dangerous precedent for national security: "It is alarming that such a camp, organized by a foreign service with the help of Serbian citizens, is being run unhindered on our territory. This is not a sign of a stable state."

For Moldova, which is under constant pressure from Russia, this is a very worrying situation. If the aim of the trainings conducted in Serbia is to prepare for unrest in the event that the election results do not favor pro-Russian forces, then the scenario of destabilization is real and imminent.

Elections in Moldova are held on Sunday, and the results are expected to be announced on the evening of September 30. If protests erupt, it will be very difficult to deny the connection to the "course" that began in Serbia.