Another Brick in the (Russian) Wall: Graffiti Propaganda in Serbia

This paper examines pro-Russian political graffiti in Serbia, which proliferated after 2016 as a reaction to Russian aggression in Ukraine, both following the annexation of Crimea and the start of the full-scale invasion in 2022. Since their main purpose was to emphasize Serbian-Russian friendship and support for Russia, the study explores their creation and removal as part of propaganda efforts by both Serbian and Russian regimes. Right-wing organizations and football hooligans played a significant role in their production, often acting as ventriloquists for the regime. The paper also considers the involvement of Russian refugees in Belgrade and local anti-war activists in the destruction of the graffiti. The rise and disappearance of these visual messages highlight how Serbia navigates its relationship with Russia, while simultaneously pursuing closer ties with the West and the EU and supplying arms to Ukraine.

Radina Vučetić

Radina Vučetić


Radina Vučetić is a full professor at the Department of History, Faculty of Philosophy, University of Belgrade. She is the director and one of the founders of the Center for American Studies at the Faculty of Philosophy in Belgrade. Her research focuses on 20th-century history, American studies, the Cold War, Serbian/Yugoslav–American relations, the history of Yugoslavia, cultural and social history, public diplomacy, and soft power.


Articles

Contemporary
Southeastern Europe

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