According to him, Kremlin’s influence has not traditionally been this strong in this part of Europe, but recent years have brought a noticeable change. Blazevic describes Russia’s aggression against Ukraine as a genocidal act and part of a long-term strategy to destroy the European order. He also warns of new authoritarian alliances and risks threatening peace and democracy across the continent.
"Russia now has considerable influence. Historically, Russia did not have influence in the Western Balkans. Since Tito’s time, this region has somehow protected and freed itself from Russian influence. Now, in recent years, Russia and its negative influence have returned. In fact, I would say that for the first time in recent history, this influence is seriously present in this region. Russia’s interest here is not to stabilize things, but to destabilize them. And at any given moment, Russia is capable of creating instability, which it is currently fueling toward an even more serious conflict. Thus, the Western Balkans is one of the vulnerable and fragile areas at the moment," he said.
"These [risks] are unpredictable. But I would say it is possible, even very possible, that there could be an even more serious destabilization in this part of the world. Because currently we are truly not in a new multipolar order, but in a multipolar chaos. We are facing serious global rivalries and competition for a new division of the world. And when a new division of the world occurs, the disturbed regions in the middle — and we are one of those regions — are usually very sensitive to serious destabilization and possibly war," he said.
Blazevic also mentions China’s support as a factor strengthening the Kremlin and warns of major risks threatening peace and democracy in Europe."We are now globally in a much more serious situation, not only facing the threat posed by Putin’s Russia. Now we have three different forces or three different alliances with synchronized interests. One alliance is what I would call the authoritarian alliance: Russia, China, Iran. The second alliance is what I would call the kleptocratic alliance, which is much broader than the authoritarian one. Thirdly, we have a serious wave of a conservative, illiberal, right-wing movement, which I would truly call a social movement happening in many countries of the world, usually packaged in one religion or another, which also alienates society from freedom. These three forces are cooperating with each other. They are helping one another. This means that democracy, freedom, Europe, peace are under a very, very serious threat — not just a threat, but under a very serious attack. The attack is happening, and we will spend a lot of time defending ourselves. And it is by no means certain that we will succeed in defending ourselves," he said.
Blazevic extensively discusses the war in Ukraine, which he describes as a genocidal and neo-colonial aggression against a neighboring country.
"Yes, you know, Vucic is someone who plays on Putin’s side, let’s put it that way. He has been quite clever in doing what Lukashenko did for a very long time: playing all sides — with Europe, with Russia. But essentially, Vucic is in the Russian camp, Putin’s camp. And now, when he feels threatened within his country, he will rely even more on Russia and China and will abandon that fake game he previously played with Europe," he said.
