Serbia exempt from Russian ruble requirement

Serbia will not have to pay for Russian gas supplies in rubles, the head of its state gas company Srbijagas Dusan Bajatovic said on March 29.

Russian president Vladimir Putin said last week that all "unfriendly" countries, implying those that have supported sanctions against Russia, would have to pay for Russian gas in rubles. The requirement is expected to come into force on March 31.

Serbia, which has retained strong ties with Russia over the years despite pushing for EU membership, has not supported the sanctions regime. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on March 24 indicated that Serbia might be made exempt from the ruble demand.