2 weeks ago
Serbia's caller authorities will see a erstwhile intelligence main who has fostered adjacent ties pinch Russia and is sanctioned by nan United States, nan premier minister-designate said Tuesday.
Aleksandar Vulin will service arsenic 1 of respective vice-premiers, said Milos Vucevic arsenic he announced nan creation of his early furniture that is expected to beryllium voted into agency successful nan coming days successful Serbia's parliament.
Serbia is formally seeking European Union rank but has maintained friends relations pinch Russia and refused to subordinate Western sanctions against Moscow complete nan warfare successful Ukraine.
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The inclusion of Vulin into nan caller authorities suggests continued adjacent ties pinch Russia contempt Serbia's proclaimed pro-EU path.
Aleksandar Vulin, erstwhile head of Serbia's intelligence agency listens during a property convention of Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic successful Belgrade, Serbia, connected Oct. 8, 2022. Serbia's caller authorities will see Vulin, who has fostered adjacent ties pinch Russia and is sanctioned by nan United States, nan premier minister-designate Milos Vucevic said connected April 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic, File)
In July, the U.S. imposed sanctions connected Vulin, accusing him of engagement successful forbidden arms shipments, supplier trafficking and misuse of nationalist office.
The U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control said Vulin utilized his nationalist authority to thief a U.S.-sanctioned Serbian arms trader move forbidden arms shipments crossed Serbia’s borders. Vulin is besides accused of engagement successful a drug trafficking ring, according to U.S. authorities.
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Vulin resigned arsenic nan head of Serbia’s intelligence agency BIA aft nan sanctions were imposed connected him. He had antecedently served besides arsenic some nan service and constabulary chief.
Vucevic, nan caller prime-minister designate, antecedently served arsenic nan defense minister.
The authorities statement comes months aft a tense parliamentary predetermination successful December that saw nan ruling populist right-wing statement of President Aleksandar Vucic triumph astir seats successful nan 250-member assembly. The ballot fueled governmental tensions because of reports of wide irregularities reported by some section and world monitors. An guidance group organized thoroughfare protests successful nan aftermath of nan election.
