Congressmen Push for Sanctions, Accuse Vucic of Corruption, Pressure on Media

U.S. Congress (Wikimedia)

A group of U.S. congressmen have asked U.S. President Joseph Biden to consider imposing sanctions against individuals that were destabilizing the Western Balkans and accused Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic of deepening corruption in Serbia and exerting pressure on the media.

In a letter to Biden they said they were concerned about the political situation in Serbia and the impact it might have on the region and Europe, Podgorica's Vijesti newspaper reported on Nov. 6, citing the letter which it saw.

The congressmen are also urging Biden to consider, where possible, using Executive Order 14033, to block assets and ban entry to the U.S. for the individuals responsible for destabilizing the situation in the Western Balkans, in order to reach a more transparent and more accountable government in Serbia which will respect democracy, human rights and rule of law.

The congressmen also said that the U.S. administration should urgently act to confront corruption and attacks on the freedom of the media in Serbia, recalling that presidential and parliamentary elections were expected to take place next spring. The letter was signed by congressmen Raja Krishnamoorthi, Ritchie Torres, David N. Cicilline, Jan Schakowsky, James P. McGovern and Mike Quigley.