Tenney Accepts Honor from Accused Autocrat

In a shameful spectacle of diplomatic delusion, U.S. Representative Claudia Tenney (R-NY) accepted Serbia’s highest state honour from Aleksandar Vučić — a bloodthirsty tyrant who has turned Serbia into a graveyard for dissent and a playground for authoritarian brutality.

Vučić, a man whose hands are soaked in the silence of assassinated opponents and the screams of tortured critics, awarded Tenney the Order of the Serbian Flag, First Class — and she proudly accepted, gushing about “positive changes” in the country he now rules with iron fists and black vans.

The Torture of Nikola Sandulović

Among those “changes” is the torture of Nikola Sandulović, the leading opposition politician and human rights activist, who dared to do what Vučić’s regime considers treason: apologise for Serbian war crimes in Kosovo.

On 3 January 2024, around 3:20 PM, three black vehicles screeched to a halt outside Sandulović’s Belgrade home. Agents from Serbia’s BIA — the state security agency — stormed the property, masked and armed. He was beaten unconscious, thrown into a van, and dragged to BIA headquarters. There, in scenes that recall the worst of Soviet-era torture, he was forced to kneel, shirtless, and kiss photographs of dead BIA agents while being filmed and beaten.

They hit him in the face, kicked him to the floor, pinned his legs and arms down, yanked his head back, and screamed “traitor” while recording the ordeal. He begged them to either kill him or call a doctor. Instead, he was dumped into a military hospital — and the next day, arrested again on charges of “inciting hatred” for laying a wreath at a child’s grave.

A Pattern of Repression and Silence

This is the Serbia Claudia Tenney celebrates. This is the tyrant she embraces.

Vladimir Cvijan, former presidential aide turned critic of Vučić’s regime, vanished for years — only for it to be revealed that his body had been dead and buried for three years before the public was informed. Oliver Ivanović, another opponent, was gunned down on the street. Vučić’s regime offers silence, denial, and intimidation — not justice.

Complicity and Deception

Tenney, who chairs the Serbian Caucus in Congress, is not merely naive — she is complicit. By accepting a medal from a dictator with a track record of electoral fraud, media control, and state violence, she spits in the face of the very democratic values she was elected to uphold.

Her job is to represent American interests and human rights — not to glorify autocrats and whitewash political terror. On top of that, she lied when she said Donald Trump is aware of what she is doing; this is a blatant lie. Donald Trump has no idea what she is doing in Serbia. She is also damaging the reputation of the American president.

Demand for Accountability

Her actions are disgraceful. She owes an apology not only to her constituents but to every victim of Vučić’s regime. Her continued presence in Congress is an embarrassment.

Claudia Tenney must resign immediately. She should hang her head in shame.

FAQ

Who is Claudia Tenney?

Claudia Tenney is a U.S. Representative for New York’s 24th congressional district. A member of the Republican Party, she previously served the 22nd district and was a New York State Assembly member from 2011 to 2016.

What recent controversy surrounds Claudia Tenney?

Tenney accepted Serbia’s highest state honor from Aleksandar Vučić, sparking backlash due to Vučić’s widely criticized authoritarian rule and record of human rights abuses.

Why is Aleksandar Vučić considered controversial?

Vučić has been accused of political repression, media control, and enabling violence against dissenters, including the torture of opposition figure Nikola Sandulović.

Who is Nikola Sandulović and what happened to him?

Nikola Sandulović is the leading Serbian opposition politician who was reportedly kidnapped, tortured, and hospitalized by state BIA agents after speaking out about Serbian war crimes.

What should Claudia Tenney’s role be, and how has she failed in it?

Claudia Tenney’s job is to represent American interests and human rights—not to glorify autocrats or whitewash political terror. Moreover, she falsely claimed that Donald Trump was aware of her actions in Serbia, which is untrue. Her misleading statements also harm the reputation of the American president.

Has Claudia Tenney faced criticism for her actions?

Yes. Human rights advocates and political opponents have called for her resignation, arguing her acceptance of the award legitimizes an authoritarian leader accused of severe abuses.