Air Serbia flight carrying former Vucic ally Vulin returns to Belgrade over security concerns

Moscow-bound flight turned back after airport authorities requested additional screening of passenger; Vulin denies wrongdoing, alleges political motives

An Air Serbia flight bound for Moscow with Aleksandar Vulin, a close ally of former Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, on board returned to Belgrade on Tuesday evening after airport authorities requested additional security screening of a passenger, the airline said. Flight JU134 departed Belgrade for the Russian capital Tuesday evening but was diverted back to Serbia while flying over Lithuania. Air Serbia said the decision followed a notification from airport authorities that additional security checks were required for one of the passengers. Serbian media identified the passenger as Vulin, chairman of the supervisory board of state-owned gas company Srbijagas. Srbijagas Director General Dusan Bajatovic and politician Nenad Popovic were also reportedly on board. According to local media reports, Vulin boarded the aircraft without completing the required security screening. The airport’s security director reportedly ordered the plane to return after reviewing surveillance footage. Upon landing in Belgrade, all passengers and their luggage underwent additional screening under police supervision. Speaking to Serbia’s Informer television, Vulin rejected the allegations, describing the incident as a politically motivated attempt to target him. He insisted that he had completed all required security checks and was not carrying any prohibited items. Vulin said he was traveling to Moscow on official business to discuss the extension of a gas agreement between Serbia and Russia. The aircraft subsequently resumed its journey and landed in Moscow early Wednesday. Vulin, a prominent pro-Russian politician, served as Serbia’s interior minister, defense minister, director of the Security Intelligence Agency (BIA) and deputy prime minister during Vucic’s presidency. The United States imposed sanctions on Vulin in 2023. The incident comes amid political changes in Serbia following the Oct. 25 snap parliamentary elections, in which the student-backed electoral list won 52.71% of the vote, securing 140 seats in the 250-member parliament. The “Aleksandar Vucic – United Serbia” alliance received 39.17% of the vote, winning 104 seats, according to preliminary election results.