The United States has announced new sanctions under which, among others, businessmen from Kosovo Zvonko Veselinović and Milan Radoičić, writes Nova.rs.
The mentioned businessmen are close to the ruling party in Serbia, SNS, and Radoičić himself is a high-ranking representative of the Serbian List.
As Nova writes, the explanation states that Veselinović is the leader of an organized criminal group and one of the most notorious corrupt figures in Kosovo. He is also alleged to have engaged in a large-scale bribery scheme with Kosovo and Serbian security officials, which facilitated the trade of narcotics and weapons between Kosovo and Serbia.
The American administration points out that the organized criminal group of Zvonko Veselinović was accused of alleged involvement in the murder of Oliver Ivanović in January 2018.
"Veselinović, Milan Radoičić, Željko Bojić and Marko Rosić are all listed in the indictment for murder, and each had his role in the assassination, that is, the criminal enterprise," it is stated, among other things, in the explanation.
Vučić on sanctions: If there are serious accusations, they will be investigated
The President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, said, commenting on the decision of the United States to put on the list of sanctions the vice-president of the Serbian List, Milan Radoičić, the businessman from the north of Kosovo, Zvonko Veselinović, and 11 other persons connected with them, that the competent authorities of Serbia will investigate everything if there are "some serious accusations ".
He said at a press conference on December 8 that he had received an informal report from the US Embassy about this decision.
"They accused them, first of all, of illegal trade. In the end, they will be accused of not respecting the border between Kosovo and Serbia, but that is already their business. If there are any serious accusations, our state authorities will investigate them as well," he said. is Vucic.
Earlier on December 8, the US Department of Finance announced that it had put Milan Radoičić, the vice-president of the Serbian List, the leading Serbian party in Kosovo, businessman from the north of Kosovo Zvonko Veselinović, his brother Žarko and ten other people connected with them on the list of sanctions. They are accused of connection with transnational organized crime.
Vučić said that he is afraid that "we will soon receive such a paper for some in much higher positions in the region".
"Then are we going to react like that? Everything we receive with any indication that someone has committed a criminal offense, our competent authorities will be ready to check it immediately and completely," said Vučić.
Vučić denied that the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), which he headed, took money from Zvonko Veselinović.
"They didn't even give us a dinar, I don't know about the others. The party I lead has more than enough money thanks to state funds and membership fees. These are our main sources. We have no need for any supplements," said Vučić.
Zvonko and Žarko Veselinović, Radoičić, Željko Bojić and Marko Rosić have been identified as belonging to corrupt networks connected to international organized crime, according to a statement published on the website of the US Department of Finance.
In addition to these persons, over 20 of their companies based in Kosovo, Serbia, Croatia and Bulgaria are on the list of US sanctions. US sanctions generally block the assets of individuals and firms on the list and prohibit US citizens from doing business with them.
In a statement published on the website of the US Ministry of Finance, it is stated that Zvonko Veselinović is the leader of an organized criminal group, and that he is one of the most notorious corrupt figures in Kosovo.
It adds that his criminal group is involved in a wide-ranging bribery scheme, along with Kosovo and Serbian security officials who facilitate its illegal trade in goods, drug money and weapons between Kosovo and Serbia.
According to reports, since the end of 2017, Veselinović and his brother Žarko had agreements with politicians to help their party win the elections, ensure the political victories of their candidates and finance the candidates with large sums of money.
In return, these politicians would allow the brothers control over certain areas for their business, as well as where they can conduct their illegal activities without interference from Serbian authorities, and would also provide proprietary business information to support the brothers' business investments.
It is added that the politicians would also reward the Veselinović brothers by working to give them the best infrastructure contracts.
Bonus video:
