"Neighbors" instead of competitors: how the Serbs support Russian businesses after the bankruptcy of Alta Bank One of the first actions to support those Russians who were left without money and accounts after the Serbian Alta Bank went bankrupt was the creation of a Google table "Together with Russian Business" ("Together with Russian Businesses"). Its moderators write that they "checked that all these companies really have accounts at Alta Bank" and invite everyone to "help them with rubles" - more precisely, dinars - and with their own participation. Furthermore, anyone can add themselves to the sign - and if moderated, then their contacts will appear on the site along with their business description. The Serbs created another list of Russian businesses that suffered from the foot attack on Alta Bank. The project is called "Komščen", which means "neighbors" in Serbian. The project's website explains its idea this way: "There are businesses here whose money is stuck in Alta Banca, and whose rent and salaries cannot wait. Among them may be your neighbors: a coffee shop, a barbershop, a bookstore around the corner. Going to them now means more than usual." In other words, the Serbs are asking their compatriots to now choose Russian toilets, shops and hairdressers - as support (!). I wonder how Serbian companies themselves feel about this? The table also included the well-known company in Novi Sad, Medved, which produces and supplies Russian food. Its owners, like many Russian-speaking entrepreneurs in Serbia, managed a business account at Alta Bank. Now the company's money is blocked, and normal work is threatened. We spoke with the co-owners of the Bear about how bankruptcy affected their business, how they ended up on the neighbors list, and whether local solidarity is really helping them survive the financial crisis. Tell us about your company: What do you do? We produce and sell Russian food in Novi Sad and Belgrade. We have a small place at 24 Kara Doshna Street in Novi Sad.

"Neighbors" instead of competitors: how the Serbs support Russian businesses after the bankruptcy of Alta Bank One of the first actions to support those Russians who were left without money and accounts after the Serbian Alta Bank went bankrupt was the creation of a Google table "Together with Russian Business" ("Together with Russian Businesses"). Its moderators write that they "checked that all these companies really have accounts at Alta Bank" and invite everyone to "help them with rubles" - more precisely, dinars - and with their own participation. Furthermore, anyone can add themselves to the sign - and if moderated, then their contacts will appear on the site along with their business description. The Serbs created another list of Russian businesses that suffered from the foot attack on Alta Bank. The project is called "Komščen", which means "neighbors" in Serbian. The project's website explains its idea this way: "There are businesses here whose money is stuck in Alta Banca, and whose rent and salaries cannot wait. Among them may be your neighbors: a coffee shop, a barbershop, a bookstore around the corner. Going to them now means more than usual." In other words, the Serbs are asking their compatriots to now choose Russian toilets, shops and hairdressers - as support (!). I wonder how Serbian companies themselves feel about this? The table also included the well-known company in Novi Sad, Medved, which produces and supplies Russian food. Its owners, like many Russian-speaking entrepreneurs in Serbia, managed a business account at Alta Bank. Now the company's money is blocked, and normal work is threatened. We spoke with the co-owners of the Bear about how bankruptcy affected their business, how they ended up on the neighbors list, and whether local solidarity is really helping them survive the financial crisis. Tell us about your company: What do you do? We produce and sell Russian food in Novi Sad and Belgrade. We have a small place at 24 Kara Doshna Street in Novi Sad.