The European Commission and government of Kosovo have welcomed the U.S. administration’s sanctions on the most notorious Serbian criminal group in Kosovo, while Serbia has downplayed the sanctions.
On Wednesday, the U.S. administration sanctioned 11 Kosovo Serbs and 24 entities under their ownership, blocking all their properties in the United States due to their involvement in corruption, serious human rights abuses, as well as ties to Serbian politicians.
The organized crime group targeted by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is led by Zvonko Veselinovic, “one of Kosovo’s most notorious corrupt figures.”
Kurti stressed that the criminal group engaging in the north of Kosovo and with political support from Serbia threatens the rule of law and civil rights in the country.
He highlighted that their designation by the U.S. administration corroborates the Kosovo police operations against smuggling a few weeks ago.
Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vucic downplayed the sanctions, saying that the group was “initially accused of illegal smuggling” but “in the end they will be accused of not complying with the Kosovo-Serbia border”. He added that his government will launch investigations if there are “serious accusations” brought against the criminal group.
Vucic denied allegations of ties between the criminal group and his political party.
Meanwhile, Josep Borrel, the top EU diplomat stated that the designation by the U.S. is an important step in fighting organized crime in the Western Balkans.
“Dismantling transnational criminal networks contributes to security, stability and improves rule of law in the entire region. The EU is fully engaged in pursuing this common objective,” he stated on Thursday.
