On December 5, 2023, the Embassy of Ukraine in Belgrade officially protested to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Serbia, requesting the cessation of the activities of the representation of the civic organization "Druha Ukraine" (Other Ukraine) led by Viktor Medvedchuk.
As reported to the publication Danas by the Ukrainian Embassy, this request is grounded in the provisions of Article 29 of the Serbian Law on Business Organizations, which prohibits the use of the name of a country in the official name of a legal entity without the permission of the respective foreign state.
The Ukrainian Embassy explained to the publication that the liquidation of this representation is currently in the legal domain, but they emphasize that there is also a political aspect to this issue.
Serbia is a candidate country for EU membership, and together with 140 other countries worldwide, it condemned the bloodshed in the war against Ukraine, declaring Russia as the aggressor, according to statements made by the Ukrainian Embassy to Danas.
"Regrettably, there are ongoing attempts by certain political forces to implement an anti-Ukrainian scenario, promoting the spread of dirty provocations on behalf of the godfather of the international criminal Putin," stated the Ukrainian embassy in response.
The embassy added that it is particularly unpleasant to discuss this "at a time when Ukraine is shedding blood, trying to consolidate the efforts of the international community, create a platform for restoring the world order, and peaceful coexistence within the 'formula of peace' of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky."
Commenting on the Ukrainian embassy's appeal regarding the liquidation of the organization "Druha Ukraine," its leader, Dragan StanojeviÄ, stated that it is founded based on Serbian laws.