Country
Montenegro
Year
2023
Issuing Entity
US
Type
Individual
Institution
US Department of Treasury
Executive Order
E.O. 14033
Grounds
Corruption, Destabilisation
Additional information
Money launderer from cigarette and arms smuggling. Miodrag “Daka” Davidovic (Davidovic) has laundered money for decades for crime syndicates, strengthening his influence and carving out his criminal enterprise of cigarette, oil, and arms smuggling in Montenegro. His corrupt activities enabled Russia’s efforts to compromise the independence of the country’s democratic institutions and judiciary, including its efforts to influence electoral outcomes. He was also implicated in the scandal that led to the arrest of North Macedonia government Secretary General Dragi Rashkovski, a top lieutenant of former North Macedonia Prime Minister Zoran Zaev. Rashkovski allegedly received a bribe from Davidovic in order to have a meeting with Prime Minister Zaev to advance Davidovic’s business interests. From 1991 to 1992, Davidovic served as Minister of Trade in the government of the self-proclaimed Serbian Autonomous Region (SAO) of BiH.
Davidovic is being designated pursuant to E.O. 14033 for being responsible for or complicit in, or having directly or indirectly engaged in, corruption related to the Western Balkans, including corruption by, on behalf of, or otherwise related to a government in the Western Balkans, or a current or former government official at any level of government in the Western Balkans, such as the misappropriation of public assets, expropriation of private assets for personal gain or political purposes, or bribery. Additionally, Davidovic is being designated for being responsible for or complicit in, or having directly or indirectly engaged in, actions or policies that threaten the peace, security, stability, or territorial integrity of any area or state in the Western Balkans.
