Serbian intelligence chief sanctioned over corruption, ties to Russia

July 11 (UPI) -- A Serbian politician currently serving as the head of the country's Security Intelligence Agency is now under sanctions, the U.S. Treasury Department confirmed Tuesday.

The sanctions against Aleksandar Vulin are being conducted through the department's Office of Foreign Assets Control and are in response to corruption allegations and ties to an already-sanctioned Serbian arms dealer.

Vulin was appointed last December and has opposed sanctions against Russia over its war in Ukraine.

He previously served as Serbia's interior minister.

U.S. officials contend Vulin, 50, is responsible for facilitating activities to the benefit of Russia.

The Treasury accuses him of involvement in organized crime, illegal narcotics operations and misusing public office.

Vulin maintains a "mutually beneficial relationship" with Slobodan Tesic, a Serbian arms dealer who was designated by the United States in December 2017 and described in 2019 by Treasury officials as "among the biggest dealers of arms and munitions in the Balkans."

"He has used his public positions to support Russia, facilitating Russia's malign activities that degrade the security and stability of the Western Balkans and providing Russia a platform to further its influence in the region," the Treasury said in a statement.

Vulin's agency and former ministry are not being targeted for sanctions.

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

"Today's action holds accountable Aleksander Vulin for his corrupt and destabilizing acts that have also facilitated Russia's malign activities in the region."

The sanctions cover all property in the United States owned or controlled by Vulin, as well as financial accounts.

Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik, also a target of Biden administration sanctions, condemned the blacklisting of Vulin in a statement, saying "anyone who is neutral on the global political stage and does not take the side of American interests is an enemy of the United States."

"Alexander Vulin is 'guilty' of the USA because he remained principled and expressly against the introduction of sanctions against Russia," Dodik said.

Meanwhile, Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti simply remarked on Twitter that the sanctions against Vulin prove "the threat posed to peace and security at top levels of the Serbian state."