Serbian President Defends Giving Fugitive Thai Politician Citizenship

Following news that former Thai prime minister Tingluck Shinawatra - who has fled a prison sentence in Thailand for corruption - obtained Serbian citizenship in June, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has said he does not see this as a problem, calling also for ways to make it easier to get a Serbian passport.

"I don't see this as a problem for us, especially if the government can see any economic or other benefits for our country. The passport is not some sacred thing" Vucic said on Friday while visiting construction work in the northern village of Cortanovci.

Shinawatra received Serbian citizenship under a decision of the Serbian government on June 27. A short explanation signed by the Prime Minister Ana Brnabic cited part of the Law on Citizenship that says: "A foreigner whose admission to citizenship … would be of interest to the Republic of Serbia may also be admitted to citizenship".

Shinawatra was Thailand's prime minister from 2011 to 2014. She has since been charged at home with corruption and given a five-year prison sentence.

According to the Bangkok Post, she was convicted of "failing to prevent corruption in a rice subsidy programme that ultimately cost taxpayers hundreds of billions of baht".

Shinawatra has denied the accusations and called the case against her politically motivated. However, she fled the country, and her whereabouts are currently unknown.

Official Bangkok has not reacted to the news from Serbia. On Friday, Associated Press reported that Thai foreign ministry spokeswoman Busadee Santipitaks said she was "unable to comment on the report from Serbia, and that the Serbian foreign ministry had not contacted its Thai counterpart".

Shinawatra's billionaire brother Thaksin, another former...