Some 200,000 Russians to have left for Serbia since the start of Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, making the Balkan country one of the main exile destinations for those fleeing the consequences of the Kremlin’s war. Unlike other parts of Europe, Russians do not need a visa to enter Serbia and have largely been welcomed in Belgrade given the historical ties between the two Orthodox Christian countries.

The new emigrants have opened cafes and galleries, registered more than 2,000 new businesses and even giving a boost to the property market.

But in a country where Putin’s regime enjoys significant support under an increasingly assertive nationalist government led by prime minister Aleksandar Vučić, many have faced harassment and expulsions over their anti-war stance.

Belgrade has long performed a delicate balancing act between its EU aspirations on the one hand and its centuries-old ethnic and religious ties with Russia.