Serbia Arrests Two Citizens Over Alleged Training of Moldovan Protesters Ahead of Elections

Serbian Authorities Detain Individuals in Connection with Moldovan Election Interference

Serbian police have announced the arrest of two of its citizens, identified by their initials as L.P. (born 1988) and S.S. (born 1978), on charges related to organizing combat tactical training for Moldovan and Romanian nationals. The arrests occurred ahead of Moldova's parliamentary elections, which took place on September 28, 2025. Authorities suspect the training was part of a broader Russian effort to destabilize Moldova's political landscape.

Details of the Alleged Training Operation

The training sessions reportedly took place between July 16 and September 12, 2025, near Loznica in western Serbia, specifically at an ethno-tourism complex named Sunčana Reka. Between 150 and 170 individuals from Moldova and Romania are believed to have participated. Moldovan officials indicated that some participants were recruited under the guise of Orthodox pilgrimages, only to be involved in the training. The purpose of the training was allegedly to prepare activists for 'more effective physical resistance to Moldovan police officers' during potential protests or riots on election day. Instructors, reportedly from Russia and Belarus, taught participants tactics such as how to break police cordons, resist security forces, and use various items including rubber batons, handcuffs, and firearms.

During searches of the suspects' apartments, police seized laptops, mobile phones, radio-frequency tracking equipment, and a firearm from one of the individuals. The arrested individuals face charges of organizing participation in a war or armed conflict in a foreign country, with one also facing charges for unlawful weapons possession. One of the suspects, Lazar Popović (identified as L.P. in some reports), is noted to have previously served as an advisor to a Serbian minister with pro-Kremlin ties, and allegedly funneled approximately €10,000 to Russian instructors.

Moldova's Elections and Allegations of Foreign Interference

The Moldovan parliamentary elections on September 28, 2025, were widely seen as a critical juncture for the country, determining its path between European Union integration and closer ties with Russia. Moldovan President Maia Sandu and other officials have repeatedly warned of extensive Russian interference aimed at destabilizing the country, undermining its independence, and derailing its pro-European trajectory. These alleged tactics include disinformation campaigns, vote-buying schemes, and the orchestration of mass riots. Russia has consistently denied these allegations, dismissing them as 'anti-Russian' and 'unsubstantiated.'

Cross-Border Investigation and Broader Implications

The arrests in Serbia are part of a wider, coordinated investigation. Moldovan law enforcement authorities simultaneously detained 74 individuals linked to the same training program, seizing passports, cash, weapons, and other materials. Moldovan prosecutors have released video evidence, including internal chat messages and money transfers, which they claim implicates Russian agents. Serbia's Ministry of Justice has indicated it will cooperate by requesting information and evidence from Moldovan authorities through international legal channels. This case highlights the ongoing geopolitical tensions in Eastern Europe and the vulnerability of smaller democracies to foreign manipulation, with officials in Chișinău asserting that these activities are part of a 'hybrid warfare' strategy.