The head of the Serbian Security and Information Agency (BIA), Aleksandar Vulin, announced his resignation from his position. Vulin himself confirmed the decision through an official statement.

In his statement, Vulin pointed out that the USA and the EU were demanding his removal as a condition for not imposing sanctions on Serbia. He emphasized that he did not want to be associated with the pressure and blackmail against Serbia and the Serbian people. Consequently, he decided to submit his irrevocable resignation from the position of BIA director.

On July 11, Vulin found himself on the receiving end of American sanctions, with allegations of involvement in corrupt practices and undermining peace and stability in the Western Balkans. The accusations also included his alleged involvement in transatlantic organized crime, illicit drug operations, and abuse of his official position.

In a statement made on November 3, Vulin emphasized that the Serbian President, Aleksandar Vučić, and Serbia as a whole were facing threats and blackmail that he likened to the “Austro-Hungarian ultimatum of 1914”.

He pointed out that they were being pressured to recognize Kosovo, withdraw from the Srpska Republic, and forgo their sovereignty by imposing sanctions against the Russian Federation.

Vulin further expressed concern that agreeing to these demands would lead to the expulsion of Chinese investments, increased technological and economic dependence on the West, and further political and territorial disintegration of Serbia. All of this would come at the expense of traditional values, family, and social justice, as per Vulin’s statement.

Vulin argued that the sanctions imposed on him by the United States were reflective of his “unwavering commitment to Serbian unity”.

However, he firmly rejected the idea of imposing sanctions on Serbia, expressing concerns about the potential use of the BIA’s leadership for such purposes, which he deemed a selfish act.

The former BIA director added that the sincerity of his decision would be judged by the “hypocritical statements of US and EU officials, who would likely disavow any intention to impose punishment or sanctions”.

Notably, there have been no official announcements of sanctions against Serbia due to Aleksandar Vulin.

Who is Aleksandar Vulin?

Aleksandar Vulin, a former associate of Mirjana Marković, the wife of Slobodan Milošević, currently serves as a coalition partner of the Serbian Progressive Party in the Government.

After holding ministerial positions in the Serbian Government for many years, he assumed the role of head of the national security service, the Security and Information Agency (BIA), in December 2022.

On May 10, the European Parliament passed a resolution expressing reservations about Vulin’s appointment as the head of BIA. The resolution described him as a figure “known for his anti-EU rhetoric and pro-Kremlin stance”.

Vulin is well-known for his confrontational rhetoric toward neighboring countries in the region and his pro-Russian stance.

One of the recent controversies involved his participation in an international security conference in Moscow in May of the same year, which drew criticism from the embassies of Ukraine and the United States in Belgrade, as well as the European Union.