Serbian legislator Voting took place on Thursday for a new government that reinstated two pro-Russian officials sanctioned by the United States, reflecting increasingly close ties to Moscow despite the Balkan nation’s announced bid to join the European Union.
Prime Minister Milos Vucevic’s government was supported by a 152-61 vote in the 250-member parliament. The remaining 37 MLAs remained absent.
US-sanctioned former intelligence chief with Russian ties to be appointed Serbian vice-premier
The government includes former intelligence chief Alexander Vulin, who has made several trips to Russia in recent months, as one of several deputy prime ministers, along with Nenad Popovich, another Russia supporter, who has faced US sanctions,
Ivica Dacic, Foreign Minister in the previous government and also a pro-Russian politician, will be in charge of the Interior Ministry in the new cabinet.
Voting took place after two days of heated debate. President Aleksandar Vucic’s ruling nationalist conservative Serbian Progressive Party has a comfortable majority following elections in December that have heightened political tensions over reports of widespread irregularities.
Serbia’s new Prime Minister Milos Vucevic and ministers of Serbia’s new government read their oath in the parliament session during the swearing-in ceremony of his cabinet at the Serbian Parliament building in Belgrade, Serbia, Thursday, May 2, 2024. Serbian lawmakers voted Thursday to reinstate into office two pro-Russian officials who have been sanctioned by the United States in a new government that opposes Moscow, despite the Balkan nation’s announced bid to join the European Union. Shows continued close relationships. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
The increasingly authoritarian Vucic has refused to join Western sanctions against Moscow over a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, although Serbia has condemned the aggression.
New Prime Minister Vucevic reiterated that Belgrade does not intend to impose sanctions on Russia and “cannot and will not abandon” its friendship with Russia. Integration into the European Union remains a “strategic goal”.
He added that the “best possible” relations with the United States are also in Serbia’s interests.
“I firmly believe that our relations can be at a high level once again,” Vucevic said.
Security analyst and University of Belgrade professor Filip Agdus described the structure of the new government as “spin” designed to pander to the West and Russia and domestic voters.
“This sends a message to the EU that if they want to keep Serbia in their orbit they should not put too much pressure on Belgrade on democracy, rule of law or Kosovo,” Ajdus said. “At the same time, it signals Moscow’s readiness to strengthen its strategic partnership with Russia.”
The US imposed sanctions on Vulin in July, accusing him of involvement in illegal arms shipments, drug trafficking and abuse of public office.
The US Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control said Vulin used his public authority to help a US-sanctioned Serbian arms dealer move a shipment of illegal weapons across Serbia’s borders. According to US authorities, Vulin is also accused of involvement in a drug trafficking ring.
Vulin, who served as both army and police chief in the past, recently received two Medals of Honor from Russia, one from the Federal Security Service, or FSB, and the other was awarded to him by the Russian Federation. Russian President Vladimir Putin,
Popovich, a businessman and a former government minister, “has used his Russia-based businesses to enrich himself and gain close ties to senior Kremlin leaders,” the U.S. Treasury said in a statement last November.
Opposition lawmaker Radomir Lazovic criticized the inclusion of the controversial ministers. Lazovic said, “These individuals should not be part of the government, not just because they are blacklisted, but because their harmful behavior has hurt the citizens of Serbia.”
US sanctions against individuals and companies in the Balkans are designed to counter efforts to undermine peace and stability in the volatile region and Russia’s “malignant” influence.
The West has stepped up efforts to annex the restive region, fearing Russia could stoke unrest to distract from the war in Ukraine. The Balkans went through several wars in the 1990s and tensions still remain.
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Ajdus pointed out that Serbia’s declining democracy record has driven the country away from EU integration. Reports of electoral fraud in the December 17 vote led to street protests and clashes.
Ajdus said, “Vucic is still pretending to be on the EU’s side because it is beneficial to Serbia’s economy, and the EU tolerates his authoritarian tendencies out of fear of the instability that would arise from Belgrade’s influence on Russia and China.” If he loses, it could be in his backyard.”
