The arrest of two Serbian citizens accused of training Moldovan protesters has shed new light on Russia’s hybrid tactics in Eastern Europe.
Authorities in Serbia confirmed that the men organized combat tactical training for Moldovan and Romanian citizens ahead of Moldova’s crucial parliamentary elections on September 28, 2025.
Arrests in Serbia Linked to Moldova’s Elections
Serbian police detained two individuals, born in 1978 and 1988, on charges of organizing and financing paramilitary-style exercises near Loznica in western Serbia.
The training reportedly ran from July 16 to September 12 and involved between 150 and 170 participants from Moldova and Romania.
According to Serbia’s Interior Ministry, the goal of this program was to prepare activists to resist Moldovan police during election-related protests. Investigators seized laptops, mobile phones, radio-frequency tracking equipment, and a firearm from the suspects’ apartment.
The suspects—identified only as L.P. and S.S.—now face charges of organizing participation in a war or armed conflict in a foreign country, as well as unlawful weapons possession.
Coordinated Efforts Across Borders
The case has triggered cross-border cooperation. Serbia’s Ministry of Justice will request information and evidence from Moldovan authorities through international legal channels.
At the same time, Moldovan law enforcement has detained 74 individuals linked to the same program, reinforcing suspicions that the training was part of a broader network.
Officials in Chişinău argue that these activities fit into a wider Russian effort to destabilize Moldova, undermine its independence, and derail its European integration path.
Russia’s Hybrid Strategy in Moldova
For years, Moldova has been a frontline state in the battle between Western and Russian influence. By allegedly organizing tactical training in Serbia, Moscow-linked actors appear to be using hybrid warfare tactics that blend protest mobilization, disinformation, and covert funding.
This latest plot comes at a critical moment: Moldova’s parliamentary elections. If pro-Russian forces succeed, they could block Moldova’s EU ambitions and increase its reliance on Moscow.
Serbia’s Position and Regional Impact
Serbia’s decision to detain the two men indicates that Belgrade is under growing pressure to act against operations that threaten regional stability.
While Serbia maintains ties with Russia, the arrests suggest an unwillingness to allow its territory to become a staging ground for destabilization in neighboring countries.
For Moldova, the discovery highlights how vulnerable smaller democracies are to foreign manipulation. The Moldova protest training Serbia case has become a reminder that attempts to incite unrest are not isolated events but part of a coordinated regional strategy.
Why It Matters for Europe
The arrests in Serbia fit into a larger pattern of Russian interference across Europe.
It includes cyberattacks targeting government institutions, as seen in Finland and other EU states; drone incursions into Danish and Norwegian airspace, disrupting airports and probing NATO defenses; and political corruption cases, such as the bribery scandal involving former British MEP Nathan Gill.
Together, these cases reveal a multifaceted campaign designed to weaken European unity and resilience.