Russian anti-war activist Peter Nikitin has been allowed into Serbia after being held at Belgrade airport for more than a day.

Nikitin was not allowed into Serbia by order of the Security Information Agency (BIA – the country’s top civilian security organization which is headed by Aleksandar Vulin, a close associate of the Serbian president). No reasons were given for the ban on his entry into the country.

Nikitin said in a video post on his Facebook profile that he was allowed through passport control and would meet with the Ombudsman before heading to central Belgrade where his supporters organized a protest in front of parliament.

Nikitin heads the Russian Democratic Society which is opposed to the war in Ukraine. He told N1 by phone from the airport on Thursday that he thinks the only reason for the ban could be the organizing of protests against Moscow’s aggression. He said this is solely about Russia’s interests and added that “the BIA obviously follows Russia’s orders”.