Serbian authorities arrested two people on September 26 on suspicion of training Moldovan and Romanian citizens to carry out unrest during Moldova’s parliamentary elections scheduled for September 28.

This is the latest in a series of reported incidents involving Russian-backed paramilitary training in the Balkans, including camps in Bosnia & Herzegovina and Serbia ahead of Moldova’s 2024 presidential election and referendum.

The Ministry of Interior (MUP) said the two Serbian citizens, identified as L.P. (born 1988) and S.S. (born 1978), are accused of organising combat-tactical training for more than 150 Moldovans and Romanians between July and September.

The training, reportedly conducted at the Sunčana Reka complex near Loznica in western Serbia, included instruction in breaking police cordons, resisting law enforcement and using rubber batons, handcuffs and firearms, journalists from the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network (BIRN) reported.

Police confiscated laptops, mobile phones and a radio-frequency detection device from the suspects’ apartments. S.S. was additionally charged with illegal possession of a handgun, according to the Ministry of Interior.

Investigators say the training was allegedly led by instructors from Russia and Belarus, who travelled in 30-day rotations through Serbia and Montenegro. Some participants reportedly entered Serbia under the guise of religious pilgrimages, receiving payments of around €400 per trip.

The arrests raise questions about how Serbian authorities were unaware of the paramilitary activity, which appeared to run under the radar. The Serbian government has consistently emphasised its opposition to interference in other countries’ affairs and criticised Western involvement in domestic protests.

Moldovan authorities earlier detained 74 people in connection with the alleged plot to destabilise the elections, seizing passports, cash, weapons and other materials. Prosecutors said further arrest warrants would be sought for at least 12 suspects. Officials allege the operation was coordinated from Russia through criminal networks.

The European Commission said it is investigating Russia’s alleged attempts to influence Moldova’s elections, including training activities in Serbia, and praised Moldovan authorities for uncovering the plan. Some commentators have argued the EU’s own involvement — sending rapid-response teams and support programmes — shows the bloc is also interfering in the democracy it claims to protect.