Vulin on US blacklist for corruption and endangering peace in the Balkans

(Patria) - The U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) today placed Aleksandar Vulin, head of Serbia's Security Intelligence Agency, on the blacklist.

As reported, sanctioning Vulin underscores the U.S. determination to hold accountable those involved in corrupt dealings that promote their own political agendas and personal interests at the expense of peace and stability in the Western Balkans.

- He was sanctioned under Executive Order (E.O.) 14033. The designation of Aleksandar Vulin underscores the determination of the United States to hold accountable those engaged in corrupt dealings who advance their own political agendas and personal interests at the expense of peace and stability in the Western Balkans. These corrupt dealings facilitate Russian malign activities in Serbia and the region - states the notice.

- The Department will not hesitate to target actors who abuse their positions for personal gain while undermining effective and democratic governance in the Western Balkans - said Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, Brian E. Nelson.

- With today's action, Aleksandar Vulin is being held accountable for his corrupt and destabilizing acts that also enabled Russian malign activities in the region - he added.

A rationale was also provided, stating that Vulin was "involved in transnational organized crime, illegal narcotics operations, and abuse of public office."

- Vulin maintained a mutually beneficial relationship with U.S.-designated Serbian arms dealer Slobodan Tešić, helping Tešić's illegal arms shipments move freely across Serbia's borders.

Vulin's actions advanced corruption in government institutions in Serbia. These acts include using his authority for personal gain, including involvement in a drug trafficking chain. He 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. Vulin is the director of Serbia's Security Intelligence Agency, and previously served as Minister of Defense and Minister of Internal Affairs. These institutions are not targets of these sanctions.

OFAC designates Vulin pursuant to E.O. 14033 for being responsible for or complicit in corruption related to the Western Balkans, including corruption by, on behalf of, or otherwise associated with a government in the Western Balkans, or a current or former government official, or directly or indirectly involved in it at any level of government in the Western Balkans, such as misappropriation of public assets, expropriation of private property for personal gain or political purposes, or bribery - the rationale states.

The implications of the sanctions were also provided.

- As a result of today's action, all property and interests in property of Vulin that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons are blocked and must be reported to OFAC. Additionally, any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, individually or in the aggregate, 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked. All transactions by U.S. persons within (or transiting) the United States that involve any property or interests in property of designated or otherwise blocked persons are prohibited unless authorized by a general or specific license issued by OFAC or exempt. Prohibitions include the making of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services by, to, or for the benefit of any blocked person, or the receipt of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services from any such person.

Additionally, financial institutions and other persons that engage in certain transactions or activities with the sanctioned person may be exposed to sanctions or be subject to enforcement action - it is stated, as reported by Faktor.