Serbian intelligence chief Vulin, who is "friends" with the Kremlin, resigns

The head of the Serbian Information Security Agency (analogous to the SBU), Aleksandar Vulin, who maintains ties with the Kremlin and is under US sanctions, resigned on Friday, November 3, DW reports.

Former Serbian Minister of Defense and Interior Vulin, whose harsh nationalist attacks often led to diplomatic scandals with neighboring states, is one of the few European officials who have officially visited Moscow since the start of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

"The United States and the European Union are demanding my head not to impose sanctions on Serbia. I will not be the cause of blackmail and pressure on Serbia, so I am submitting my resignation," Vulin said.

The United States imposed sanctions on 51-year-old Vulin in July this year, accusing him of corruption and involvement in drug trafficking. The US also accused Wulin of helping Russia expand its influence in the Balkans, helping to undermine security and stability in the region.

Vulin has publicly advocated for the "Serbian World" – a union of Serbs living in different countries, which critics see as similar to Moscow's idea of the "Russian World."

Serbia has been waiting to join the European Union since 2012, but is almost entirely dependent on Russian gas supplies. Belgrade has often deviated from the EU's foreign policy course, in particular, refusing to impose sanctions on Russia over its war in Ukraine. At the same time, Serbia condemned Russian aggression at the UN.

Serbia is also dependent on Russia's veto in the UN Security Council, which has successfully prevented international recognition of Kosovo, which unilaterally declared independence from Belgrade in 2008.

Background. A few days ago, Serbian President Vucic dissolved the parliament and called for early elections.