Russian President Vladimir Putin has awarded the Order of Friendship to former Director of the Serbian Security and Intelligence Agency (BIA), Aleksandar Vulin.
The news was announced by the Socialist Movement, founded by Vulin.
According to the announcement, Vulin was honored “for his significant contribution to the development and improvement of cooperation between the BIA and the Foreign Intelligence Service of Russia [SVR] in ensuring state security and defending the national interests of Serbia and Russia”.
The Socialist Movement announced that Putin’s envoy, Director of the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service, Sergey Naryshkin, presented the award to Vulin at the headquarters of the service in Moscow.
According to the announcement, Naryshkin stated that Vulin deserves this award due to his ongoing efforts to enhance Russian-Serbian relations and cooperation between the intelligence services of Russia and Serbia.
Vulin has continued to maintain direct contacts with Russian officials even after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Just two days ago, Vulin was also honored by the Director of the Russian Federal Security Service, Army General Alexander Bortnikov.
Bortnikov awarded Vulin the order for his high level of professionalism and contribution to cooperation between Serbian and Russian services. He accepted this order at the headquarters of the Russian service in Moscow on January 28.
Vulin has long been a partner of Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić’s coalition, until recently when he headed the BIA.
In July 2023, the United States placed him on the sanctions list amid suspicions of involvement in corruption, drug trafficking, and ties to Russia.
On November 3, 2023, Vulin resigned from leading the BIA, arguing that he had no right to “sacrifice Serbia” by remaining in that position.
In the past, he has held several political positions, from heading the Office for Kosovo in the Serbian Government to leading defense and internal affairs departments, and eventually serving as the chief spy.
