The American government introduced economic sanctions against the head of the Budva criminal group and former high-ranking official of the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS), Svetozar Marović, due to, as reported, destabilizing and corrupt activities in the region.
In a statement from the US Department of the Treasury, it is stated that the sanctions were imposed on Marović "due to responsibility or complicity, direct or indirect involvement in corruption related to the Western Balkans, including corruption on behalf of or associated with a government in the Balkans, or a current or former government official at any which level of government in the Balkans, such as embezzlement of public property, or confiscation of private property for personal gain or political purposes, or bribery".
In addition to Marović, economic sanctions were introduced for six other people from Albania, North Macedonia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
On the other hand, the US State Department publicly labeled the former Prime Minister of North Macedonia, Nikola Gruevski, and the former director of the Directorate for Security and Counterintelligence Affairs (UBK), Saša Mijalkova, as well as Gordana Tadić from Bosnia and Herzegovina, the former chief state prosecutor.
"We took these actions in response to the involvement of these former officials in significant corruption. Their actions undermined the rule of law, democratic institutions and public processes in both countries and undermined public faith in their governments," State Department spokesman Ned Price said.
As for Albania, economic sanctions were imposed on Akif Rakipi, a former member of parliament, and Jili Ndroki, a media owner.
Sanctions were imposed on the former Prime Minister of North Macedonia, Nikola Gruevski, and the former head of the counter-intelligence service of that country, Saš Mijalkov.
Sanctions were also imposed on Gordana Tadić, the former chief prosecutor of the Prosecutor's Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) and Asim Sarajlić, a member of the BiH Parliament and until recently a high-ranking official of the Democratic Action Party (SDA).
"The individuals named today pose a serious threat to regional stability, institutional trust, and the aspirations of those seeking democratic and reasonable governance in the Western Balkans," said US Deputy Treasury Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian E. Nelson.
He said that the fight against corruption around the world is one of the big priorities of the Biden-Harris administration and the Ministry of Finance will not hesitate to use all available means to ensure the accountability of corrupt and destabilizing actors.
The press release states that this is the second action taken by the Foreign Assets Control Office at the Secretariat for Finance within the framework of the regulation that foresees the sanctioning of persons who threaten the stability of the region through corruption, criminal activity and destabilizing behavior.
"Today's move strengthens the secretariat's determination to ensure the accountability of actors in the Western Balkans region who are involved in destabilizing and corrupt behavior. Such corrupt behavior undermines the rule of law and economic growth, and deprives the people of those countries of opportunities and stability," the announcement concludes.
"We are committed to helping the countries of the Western Balkans in the fight against corruption and organized crime," said a State Department official.
Implications of sanctions
"As a result of today's action, all assets, and proceeds from assets, of certain individuals or entities located in the United States or owned or controlled by U.S. persons must be frozen and reported to OFAC (the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control ).OFAC's regulations generally prohibit all transactions by U.S. persons or persons within (or in transit through) the United States involving any assets or proceeds of assets of designated or otherwise blocked persons. U.S. persons may face civil or criminal penalties for violations of EO 14033. The strength and integrity of OFAC's sanctions derive not only from its ability to designate and add individuals to the SDN list, but also from its willingness to remove individuals from the SDN list in accordance with law.The ultimate goal of sanctions is not a punishment, but a positive change in behavior," the US Treasury Department said in a statement.
Svetozar Marović was arrested in December 2015, only to be released from Spuša prison the following May after pleading guilty and concluding an agreement verified by the High Court.
He made his way to Belgrade, since when "every trace" of him is lost, because the Serbian state institutions allegedly cannot find him. Montenegro issued a warrant for him.
At the end of 2020, the government renewed the request for Marović's extradition and sent it to Serbia.
The main sentence, by which the elder Marović was sentenced to a single prison sentence of three years and nine months, expires absolutely on October 10, 2026.
On several occasions, the Montenegrin authorities unsuccessfully requested the extradition of Marović.
On January 28 of this year, the Ministry of Justice, Human and Minority Rights of Montenegro sent an urgent letter to the Ministry of Justice of Serbia regarding the request for the extradition of Svetozar Marović.
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