MOSCOW, December 25. /TASS/. The Western countries are certainly behind the instigation of and support for protests that followed the parliamentary elections in Serbia, Russia’s ambassador to Serbia Alexander Botsan-Kharchenko has said.

"Having realized that in Belgrade its aims are unachievable in a calm and peaceful way, the opposition immediately started protests, which are encouraged and supported from the outside," he told the Rossiya-24 TV channel.

"This is really so. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has mentioned this. I won't and can't go into details. It was a confidential conversation and confidential information. He has irrefutable evidence that there is incitement and support from the West," Botsan-Karchenko said.

The ambassador noted in this regard that attempts to shake loose the power of the incumbent president "are primarily related to his firm defiance of anti-Russian sanctions."

"He remains committed to his stance. Naturally, to his firm non-recognition of Kosovo, too. The West is furious," the diplomat emphasized.

Botsan-Kharchenko also pointed out that the Serbian leadership "reacts calmly to what is happening within the framework of the constitution."

"Its top priority is respect for the people's choice and solution of all issues both at the level of the Serbian parliament, and at the municipal levels, and at the Belgrade level within the framework of the law and, of course, with reliance on the results of the elections, which were held smoothly, in an orderly manner and on the basis of Serbia’s election laws and those norms and standards of the European OSCE that exist," he concluded.

Earlier, there was a meeting between Vucic and Botsan-Kharchenko. The head of state said afterwards he had informed the Russian diplomat about the riots that had taken place in the Serbian capital the previous day.