Kremlin tightens internal control and eyes Balkan influence ahead of elections

Russian authorities are intensifying domestic political controls and strategic maneuvering in the Balkans ahead of upcoming parliamentary elections.

Domestically, the government banned Yabloko, Russia’s final legal anti-war opposition party, and sentenced senior member Lev Schlosberg to 11 years in prison. Amid heavy wartime casualties in Ukraine, growing public apprehension regarding a potential post-election military draft has prompted some citizens to sell assets and prepare to leave the country. Observers also point to historical late-summer volatility, known as "Black August," alongside mounting questions over political succession for 73-year-old President Vladimir Putin.

Concurrently, Moscow is focusing on Serbian elections, with officials repeatedly warning against prospective Western-backed "color revolutions" to protect its influence in the region.

Sources: Avaz, Danas, Klix, N1, Vijesti