Both referred to the protests as an attempted “colour revolution,” a term used to describe pro-Western protests that toppled governments in Ukraine, Georgia and Kyrgyzstan in recent decades.

“Western intelligence services are behind the colour revolution in Serbia and would like to bring another government to power in Serbia. We will not allow this,” TASS news agency quoted Vulin as saying.

On Friday, Vulin said that Russia’s spy services had assisted Belgrade authorities in responding to the protests, which government critics said revealed the extent to which it had become dependent on Moscow.

Shoigu said on Saturday both countries maintained regular dialogue and exchanged information “including with a view to countering ‘colour revolutions’.”

“This helps to prevent destabilisation of the situation in brotherly Serbia in the changing geopolitical environment,” Shoigu was reported as saying.

Students, backed by teachers, farmers and workers, have maintained daily protests across Serbia since last November, when 16 people died in a roof collapse at a train station in the northern city of Novi Sad, which they blame on corruption.

Earlier this week, Serbian parliament formally approved the resignation of Prime Minister Milos Vucevic, who offered to step down on Jan 28, triggering a 30-day deadline for the formation of a new government or the calling of a snap election.