Voulin dismissal required in Serbia

Free Europe Radio has attempted to contact Volin, the Serbian Government and Serbian President Aleksandar Vuciq, as well as some members of the ruling party, but they were not available for comment.

Meanwhile, part of Serbia's opposition has called for the immediate removal of the Seal from BIA's direction.

The pro-European opposition movement of Free Citizens (PSG) stated it is demanding by Prime Minister Anna Brnabiq, that at the next session of government, Aleksandar Vulin be dismissed from the position of BIA director.

The “known as Aleksandar Vulin is a threat to the security of Serbia and the region, and it was only a matter of time for such charges to take place. The fact that a disqualified person like Voulin is at the helm of BIA is an eye-to-face for the whole world and all of Serbia's citizens. He must be dismissed immediately”, SPG deputy Pavle Grbovic said through a statement.

He added that the fact that BIA's director is under sanctions means that Serbia's “is compromised because such a person, who holds such a position, poses a direct threat to security and is a problem for all citizens”.

“We should not allow the entire state to introduce isolation”, he stressed.

The seal was sanctioned for claims that it is involved in corrupts and narcotics trafficking, but also for its ties to Russia.

“He has used public positions to support Russia, facilitate Russia's mountain activity degrading the security and stability of the Western Balkans and offers Russia a platform to further spread its influence in the region”, the US Treasury Department announced.

Serbian Parliament Committee for Control and Security of Services member Marinka Tepiq, from the pro-European Freedom and Justice Party, wrote on Twitter that “Vulin is under US sanctions under suspicion of corruption and narcotics trafficking. Let's see what message this will be for [Serbia's president] Aleksandar Vucicin”, she wrote.

Borko Stefanovic from the same party said that for the first time in Serbia's new history, the head of a security agency is included in the US blacklist because of corruption and involvement in drug trafficking.

“Vulin is a major damage to the state and the interests of citizens”, Stefanovic said.

Meanwhile, MP from the pro-European list “We can together”, Nebojsa Zelenkovik, said the “circle is narrowing”.

Former member of the ruling Serbian Progressive Party, Dragan Shormaz, said the Sanction of the vulin “is only the beginning”, as according to him, additional close “associates from President Vuciq will also be introduced on the sanctions list.

What does the law say?
The BIA law says the director of this agency is elected and can be downloaded from the government, but the conditions the director must meet are not specified in legislation.

Under the law, the National Security Council offers its opinion to the Government regarding the nomination or dismissal of security agency directors.

In the National Security Council, among others, there are also the president of Serbia, the prime minister, the defence minister and the interior minister. / REL