Photo: TanjugThe decision of the US Treasury Secretariat states that the head of the BIA, Aleksandar Vulin, is, among other things, involved in transnational organized crime, illegal narcotics operations and abuse of public office, which is why he is under US sanctions as of today.
Aleksandar Vulin, director of the BIA, is under the sanctions of the United States of America as of today.
A statement from the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the US Department of the Treasury stated that Alexander Vulin was involved in "transnational organized crime, illegal narcotics operations, and abuse of public office."
"Vulin had a beneficial relationship with arms dealer Slobodan Tešić - helping Tešić's illegal arms shipments move freely across Serbia's borders." Vulin's actions promoted corruption in government institutions in Serbia. These acts include using his authority for personal gain, including involvement in a drug-trafficking ring. He used his position to support Russia, facilitating Russia's malicious activities that degrade the security and stability of the Western Balkans and providing Russia with a platform for further influence in the region," the statement said.
"He has used his public positions to support Russia, facilitating Russian malign activities that degrade the security and stability of the Western Balkans and providing Russia with a platform for further influence in the region."
It is also stated that Vulin is the director of the Security Information Agency of Serbia, and previously he was the Minister of Defense and the Minister of the Interior, but that these two institutions are not the target of these sanctions."
Pro-Russian personality
"Aleksandar Vulin is an important, pro-Russian figure in the Serbian government who is closely associated with the idea of a 'Serbian world'." Here he is accused of arms and narcotics trafficking, as well as facilitating the spread of Moscow's malign influence. The sanctions may not have much concrete effect, since it is unlikely that Vulin owns assets in the United States. But this move breaks the protective bubble of impunity around the highest levels of the Serbian government. It will be interesting to see how President Vučić will react - will he keep Vulin in his position, or will he replace him," stated American analyst Daniel Server in a written response by the Voice of America to a question to comment on the decision of the Secretariat of Finance to add Aleksandar Vulin to the list of individuals with of the Western Balkans, sanctioned for corruption and endangering peace and stability.
Based on a decision by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the US Treasury Department, all of Vulin's assets located in the US or owned or controlled by US citizens are under embargo and must be reported to that body. All Vulin transactions with American private and legal entities are also prohibited.
Vulin was sanctioned based on US President Joe Biden's June 2021 executive order "EO 14033" citing corruption, endangering peace and stability.
19 sanctions so far
So far, 19 sanctions have been imposed on individuals and legal entities, mostly from BiH, including Milorad Dodik, president of the Republika Srpska entity. In December 2021, the USA imposed sanctions on Zvonko Veselinović and Milan Radoičić, as well as individuals and companies connected to them.
On the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Great Britain, it is written that Milan Radoičić, a businessman involved in the construction industry and vice-president of the Serbian List, profited from the appropriation of state contracts and used his influence to award lucrative contracts to his construction companies.
It is also stated that Zvonko Veselinović, a "businessman of the construction industry in Kosovo" is using public contracts to embezzle state funds, and that Slobodan Tešić, a prominent arms dealer from Serbia, is accused of bribing the chief state prosecutor of another country.
As the media reported at the beginning of this year, Tešić continued to trade weapons despite the sanctions.
S.Ć./N1/VoA
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