Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić said that the United States’ sanctions against the Director of the Security and Information Agency (BIA) Aleksandar Vulin, are his responsibility “because I haven’t imposed sanctions against Russia”.
“If we were to impose sanctions against Russia, they wouldn’t impose sanctions against Vulin. I am saying what I have been told, which is: impose sanctions against Russia and there won’t be sanctions against anyone,” Vučić said on Pink television on July 13.
He did not indicate whether Vulin would be replaced as the head of the BIA. Vučić stated that the sanctions have nothing to do with arms or drugs.
“If they provide any valid evidence, we will criminally prosecute Vulin. But there is nothing here, the situation with Russia is the problem,” Vučić said.
The US Department of the Treasury imposed sanctions against Vulin on July 11. He is suspected of being involved in corrupt affairs and drug trafficking, as well as having connections with Russia.
Speaking about the possibility of imposing sanctions against Russia, Vučić said that Serbia has so far “resisted” making that decision.
“I don’t know if we will be able to continue to abstain [from imposing sanctions against Russia],” Vučić said.
Serbia is one of the few countries in Europe that has not yet imposed sanctions on Russia due to its occupation of Ukraine.
- Why has Vulin been sanctioned?
The US Department of the Treasury has stated that Vulin has been involved in corrupt affairs to “advance his political agendas and personal interests at the expense of peace and stability in the Western Balkans”.
According to the US, Vulin is involved in transatlantic organized crime, illicit narcotics operations, and abuse of official duty. Vulin is also accused of “advancing” corruption within Serbian government institutions.
“He has used public positions to support Russia, to facilitate Russia’s malign activity that undermines the security and stability of the Western Balkans, and provides Russia a platform to further spread its influence in the region,” the US Department of the Treasury statement said.
