Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vučić posted a four-minute video on Instagram on Saturday titled: “Support for Novak Djokovic and response to the Prime Minister of Australia”.

President Vučić said it was impossible for him not to make a statement about the circumstances given the attacks on the Serb tennis pro.

The Serbian President was in effect responding to the Minister for Immigration, Alex Hawke’s decision to cancel Mr Djokovic’s visa clearing the way for the tennis ace to be deported. President Vučić expressed his dissatisfaction with Australia for “mistreating” Djokovic.

Mr Vučić alleges that Prime Minister Scott Morrison has used Serbia’s biggest sports star for political advantage. Clearly, the message underlying is that Mr Djokovic is the “victim” in all of this and a Serbian national is under attack in a foreign country (Australia) in order for him to be restrained from competing in the Australian Open.

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“If you wanted to ban Novak Djokovic from winning the 10th trophy in Melbourne, why didn’t you return him immediately? Why didn’t you tell him, ‘It is impossible to obtain a visa?'” Mr Vučić said on Instagram.

“Why do you harass him, why do you mistreat him, as well as his family and (a) nation that is free and proud? “Is all this necessary to win the elections and please your public”?

“A president of a small country has appeared who has the courage to say that to one great prime minister of a large country — I can, because I’m telling the truth and you know I’m telling the truth.”

Mr Vucic also criticised the process that has resulted in Djokovic’s visa being cancelled twice which has invoked a second legal challenge before the full court of The Australian Federal Court.

“They often preach (Australia) to us about the rule of law,” Mr Vucic said.

“You can imagine what it would look like if a minister in Serbia annulled court decisions.” They showed us what an independent judiciary looks like, but they also showed us what an irrelevant judiciary looks like because of all the power there is in the hands of the executive (referring to Immigration Minister’s Alex Hawke’s personal power under section 133C(3) of the Commonwealth Migration Act).

“We will fight for Novak Djokovic and the fact that you will harass him for a day, two or five more will not change the sentiments of our people toward the people of Australia that we highly respect and appreciate, but also our opinion about Novak Djokovic.

“You can write hundreds of thousands of [the] worst articles about Djokovic, [but] he will remain the greatest tennis player of all time, and we will firmly keep him in our hearts.

“And you who think that you are achieving something by harassing him, you will never reach not only Novak Djokovic, but any ordinary man, both of our and your proud and dignified people.”

“Long live Serbia, Novak, we are with you.”