The US Treasury imposed new sanctions on individuals and entities associated with Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik on November 6, the same day Dodik hosted a celebratory event for Donald Trump’s victory in the US presidential election. Dodik, who is the president of Republika Srpska, has been under US sanctions for years, and now his family and close associates have also been added to the US blacklist.
Dodik is known for challenging Bosnia’s state level authorities and advocating for the secession of Republika Srpska. He has built strong ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin and has visited Russia multiple times since the invasion of Ukraine. Dodik expressed his support for Trump’s reelection, hoping for a partnership that values stability and allows local leaders to determine their own future.
Despite hosting a cocktail party in honor of Trump, Dodik’s efforts to celebrate the US election victory may not lead to the lifting of sanctions. The US Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned an individual and an entity on the same day for supporting a network that tries to evade sanctions imposed on Dodik and his family. According to the Treasury, Dodik has used his official position to amass personal wealth through companies linked to himself and his son, Igor, undermining public trust in Bosnia’s institutions and the rule of law.
Following previous sanctions in June, Dodik’s network faced financial consequences as their bank accounts were frozen, leading to bankruptcy. Despite these measures, the network has been actively restructuring and establishing new corporate entities to conceal control and transfer assets. Dodik has been accused of directing government contracts to companies he and Igor control through third-party owners.
In response, the US sanctioned Vladimir Perisic, the general director of Prointer company, and Milenko Cicic, an associate of Igor. These individuals have attempted to circumvent previous sanctions by creating new companies to replace the blacklisted ones. The US has warned that such actions will not go unpunished, indicating ongoing scrutiny of Dodik’s network and its attempts to evade sanctions.
The US remains committed to enforcing sanctions against individuals and entities that undermine stability and the rule of law, emphasizing the importance of accountability and transparency in governance. Dodik’s continued efforts to avoid sanctions and maintain control over government contracts are met with close monitoring and targeted measures to prevent illicit activities and corruption.