Billionaire Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen invested large sums in technology ventures, research projects and philanthropy, some of it eclectic and highly speculative.
Allen died on Monday. What happens to those commitments now? Outside of bland assurances from his investment company, no one seems quite sure.
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FILE - In this Oct. 9, 2003 file photo, Paul Allen, Microsoft co-founder for the dedication of the Paul G. Allen Center for Computer Science and Engineering at the University of Washington in Seattle. Prior to his death on Monday, Oct. 15, 2018, Allen invested large sums in technology ventures, research projects and philanthropies, some of them eclectic and highly speculative. Outside of bland assurances from his investment company, no one seems quite sure what happens now. (AP PhotoJohn Froschauer, File)
Billionaire Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen invested large sums in technology ventures, research projects and philanthropy, some of it eclectic and highly speculative.
His investment company, Vulcan Inc., said Allen "thoughtfully addressed how the many institutions he founded and supported would continue after he was no longer able to lead them."
FILE- In this Oct. 15, 2018, file photo students walk out of the Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering at the University of Washington in Seattle. Prior to his death on Monday, Allen invested large sums in technology ventures, research projects and philanthropies, some of them eclectic and highly speculative. Outside of bland assurances from his investment company, no one seems quite sure what happens now. (AP PhotoElaine Thompson, File)
FILE - In this Oct. 9, 2003 file photo, Paul Allen, Microsoft co-founder for the dedication of the Paul G. Allen Center for Computer Science and Engineering at the University of Washington in Seattle. Prior to his death on Monday, Oct. 15, 2018, Allen invested large sums in technology ventures, research projects and philanthropies, some of them eclectic and highly speculative. Outside of bland assurances from his investment company, no one seems quite sure what happens now. (AP PhotoJohn Froschauer, File)
FILE- In this Monday, Oct. 15, 2018, file photo a portrait of Paul Allen stands on a wall at the Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering at the University of Washington in Seattle. Prior to his death on Monday, Allen invested large sums in technology ventures, research projects and philanthropies, some of them eclectic and highly speculative. Outside of bland assurances from his investment company, no one seems quite sure what happens now. (AP PhotoElaine Thompson, File)
Allen never married and had no children, and details of his estate aren't known.
FILE- In this Nov. 6, 2004, file photo, Paul Allen, chairman of Charter Communications and co-founder of Microsoft looks in the air while making remarks during the ceremonies and presentation of the $ 10 million check and the trophy, on the left, to Scaled Composites as part of the Ansari X Prize. Prior to his death on Monday, Oct. 15, 2018, Allen invested large sums in technology ventures, research projects and philanthropies, some of them eclectic and highly speculative. Outside of bland assurances from his investment company, no one seems quite sure what happens now. (AP PhotoJames A. Finley, File)
His investment company, Vulcan Inc., said Allen "thoughtfully addressed how the many institutions he founded and supported would continue after he was no longer able to lead them."
The company declined to discuss specifics but said there are no imminent changes planned for the number of institutions and programs that he lead and funded.
Philanthropy experts say Allen was a non-traditionalist who put his stamp on his giving.
FILE- In this June 21, 2004, file photo project designer Burt Rutan, left, and sponsor Paul Allen watch the approach and landing of SpaceShipOne after a trip to suborbital space at Mojave, Calif. Prior to his death on Monday, Oct. 15, 2018, Allen invested large sums in technology ventures, research projects and philanthropies, some of them eclectic and highly speculative. Outside of bland assurances from his investment company, no one seems quite sure what happens now. (AP PhotoReed Saxon, File)
FILE- In this Oct. 15, 2018, file photo students walk out of the Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering at the University of Washington in Seattle. Prior to his death on Monday, Allen invested large sums in technology ventures, research projects and philanthropies, some of them eclectic and highly speculative. Outside of bland assurances from his investment company, no one seems quite sure what happens now. (AP PhotoElaine Thompson, File)
FILE - In this Oct. 9, 2003 file photo, Paul Allen, Microsoft co-founder for the dedication of the Paul G. Allen Center for Computer Science and Engineering at the University of Washington in Seattle. Prior to his death on Monday, Oct. 15, 2018, Allen invested large sums in technology ventures, research projects and philanthropies, some of them eclectic and highly speculative. Outside of bland assurances from his investment company, no one seems quite sure what happens now. (AP PhotoJohn Froschauer, File)
FILE- In this Monday, Oct. 15, 2018, file photo a portrait of Paul Allen stands on a wall at the Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering at the University of Washington in Seattle. Prior to his death on Monday, Allen invested large sums in technology ventures, research projects and philanthropies, some of them eclectic and highly speculative. Outside of bland assurances from his investment company, no one seems quite sure what happens now. (AP PhotoElaine Thompson, File)
BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) — Serbian lawmakers on Thursday voted into office a new government that reinstated two pro-Russia officials who are sanctioned by the United States, reflecting persistent close ties with Moscow despite the Balkan nation's proclaimed bid to join the European Union.
Prime Minister Miloš Vučević's government got backing in a 152-61 vote in the 250-member parliament. The remaining 37 lawmakers were absent.
The government includes former intelligence chief Aleksandar Vulin, who has made several visits to Russia in recent months, as one of several vice-premiers, along with Nenad Popović, another Russia supporter who has faced U.S. sanctions.
The foreign minister in the previous government, Ivica Dačić, also a pro-Russia politician, will be in charge of the Interior Ministry in the new Cabinet.
The vote followed a heated two-day debate. President Aleksandar Vučić's ruling nationalist conservative Serbian Progressive Party holds a comfortable majority after an election in December that fueled political tensions because of reports of widespread irregularities.
The increasingly authoritarian Vučić has refused to join Western sanctions against Moscow over its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, though Serbia has condemned the aggression.
Vučević, the new prime minister, reiterated that Belgrade doesn't intend to impose sanctions on Russia and “cannot and will not give up" the friendship with Russia. Integration into the EU remains a ”strategic goal," Vucevic said.
"Best possible” relations with the U.S. also are in Serbia's interest, Vučević added. “I firmly believe that our relations can once again be on a high level.”
Security analyst and a Belgrade university professor Filip Ejdus described the new government's composition as a “spin" designed to send a message both to the West and Russia, and to voters at home.
“It sends a message to the EU that they should not push Belgrade too much over democracy, rule of law, or Kosovo if they want to keep Serbia in its orbit,” Ejdus said. “At the same time, it signals to Moscow a readiness to strengthen the strategic partnership with Russia.”
The U.S. imposed sanctions on Vulin in July, accusing him of involvement in illegal arms shipments, drug trafficking and misuse of public office.
The U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control said that Vulin used his public authority to help a U.S.-sanctioned Serbian arms dealer move illegal arms shipments across Serbia’s borders. Vulin is also accused of involvement in a drug trafficking ring, according to U.S. authorities.
Vulin, who in the past had served as both the army and police chief, has recently received two medals of honor from Russia, one from the Federal Security Service, or FSB, and the other was awarded to him by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Popović, a businessman and a former government minister, has “used his Russia-based businesses to enrich himself and gain close connections with Kremlin senior leaders,” the U.S. Treasury said last November in a statement.
The U.S. sanctions against individuals and companies in the Balkans are designed to counter attempts to undermine peace and stability in the volatile region and Russia's “malign” influence.
The West has stepped up efforts to lure the troubled region into its fold, fearing that Russia could stir unrest to avert attention from the war in Ukraine. The Balkans went through multiple wars in the 1990s, and tensions still persist.
Serbia's falling democracy record has pushed the country away from EU integration, explained Ejdus. Reports of election fraud at the Dec. 17 vote triggered street protests and clashes.
“Vučić is still pretending to be on the EU path because it’s beneficial for Serbia’s economy, and the EU tolerates his authoritarian tendencies out of fear of instability that could be caused in its backyard if Belgrade was lost to Russia and China,” Ejdus said.
Aleksandar Vulin, former director of Serbia's intelligence agency, right, smiles during a parliament session while Serbia's prime minister designate Milos Vucevic presents a plan for the new government to the parliament members in Belgrade, Serbia, Wednesday, May 1, 2024. Serbia's new government will include a former intelligence chief, Aleksandar Vulin who has fostered close ties with Russia and is sanctioned by the United States. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
Serbia's Prime Minister designate Milos Vucevic presents a plan for the new government to the parliament members in Belgrade, Serbia, Wednesday, May 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
Serbia's Prime Minister designate Milos Vucevic presents a plan for the new government to the parliament members in Belgrade, Serbia, Wednesday, May 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
Serbia's former Prime Minister and Parliament speaker Ana Brnabic, left, speaks with Serbia's new Prime Minister Milos Vucevic at the parliament session during her cabinet's swearing in ceremony at the Serbian Parliament building in Belgrade, Serbia, Thursday, May 2, 2024. Serbian lawmakers on Thursday voted into office a new government that reinstated two pro-Russia officials who are sanctioned by the United States, reflecting persistent close ties with Moscow despite the Balkan nation's proclaimed bid to join the European Union. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
Serbia's Prime Minister designate Milos Vucevic presents a plan for the new government to the parliament members in Belgrade, Serbia, Wednesday, May 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
Serbia's new Prime Minister Milos Vucevic, front, speaks with Aleksandar Vulin, former director of Serbia's intelligence agency, who has fostered close ties with Russia and is sanctioned by the United States at the parliament session during the cabinet's swearing in ceremony at the Serbian Parliament building in Belgrade, Serbia, Thursday, May 2, 2024. Serbian lawmakers on Thursday voted into office a new government that reinstated two pro-Russia officials who are sanctioned by the United States, reflecting persistent close ties with Moscow despite the Balkan nation's proclaimed bid to join the European Union. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, left, kisses Serbia's new Prime Minister Milos Vucevic after taking the oath during the cabinet's swearing in ceremony at the Serbian Parliament building in Belgrade, Serbia, Thursday, May 2, 2024. Serbian lawmakers on Thursday voted into office a new government that reinstated two pro-Russia officials who are sanctioned by the United States, reflecting persistent close ties with Moscow despite the Balkan nation's proclaimed bid to join the European Union. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
Serbia's new Prime Minister Milos Vucevic and ministers of the new government of Serbia read their oaths at the parliament session during her cabinet's swearing in ceremony at the Serbian Parliament building in Belgrade, Serbia, Thursday, May 2, 2024. Serbian lawmakers on Thursday voted into office a new government that reinstated two pro-Russia officials who are sanctioned by the United States, reflecting persistent close ties with Moscow despite the Balkan nation's proclaimed bid to join the European Union. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
