BELGRADE, Serbia — A senior Serbian official said Slobodan Milosevic's widow and son should return from their exile in Russia now that the former autocrat's allies have returned to power in the Balkan country.
Milosevic's widow, Mirjana Markovic, and son Marko Milosevic fled to Russia after the wartime leader was ousted in 2000. They have been granted refugee status, despite warrants for their arrest issued by the former pro-Western Serbian government, which was defeated by nationalists in elections in May.
Both Markovic — who was an influential leftist official during Milosevic's reign — and Marko Milosevic are still officially wanted by Belgrade for alleged cigarette smuggling worth millions of dollars during international sanctions imposed on Serbia during the 1990s.
Serbia's government minister Milutin Mrkonjic said Wednesday that he hopes they would "finally" return.
Related articles:
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.