Latest news in Serbia? September 22nd, 2026

Key developments in and involving Serbia as of September 22, 2026:

• Snap Parliamentary Elections & Political Transition: Serbia is preparing for early parliamentary elections scheduled for October 25, 2026. President Aleksandar Vučić announced plans to formally resign from the presidency in late September to head the ruling Serbian Progressive Party’s (SNS) electoral ticket as its nominee for Prime Minister. The OSCE’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) has officially deployed an international election observation mission across the country ahead of the vote.

  OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights+ 1

• New Domestic Drone Manufacturing: On September 17, Serbia inaugurated its first factory dedicated to assembling unmanned aerial vehicles designed in partnership with Israeli defense firms. The facility is slated to produce tactical loitering munitions and reconnaissance drones, including the Lanius-X and Magni platforms.

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• Reactions to Hague War Crimes Verdict: Serbian leadership and media have been reacting strongly to the mid-September sentencing of former Kosovo President Hashim Thaçi and other former KLA commanders by the specialist court in The Hague, with Serbian officials publicly arguing that the scope of prosecutions still leaves key wartime grievances unaddressed.

• Diplomatic Fallout Over Mladić Tributes: Tensions between Belgrade and Brussels flared following the death and subsequent Belgrade funeral of convicted wartime general Ratko Mladić earlier in September. Public honours and the attendance of high-level officials drew sharp criticism from European Union representatives, prompting high-level diplomatic cancellations and warnings regarding Serbia’s EU accession alignment.

  Al Jazeera