The USA imposed sanctions on Tegeltija and Kukić

The US State Department imposed sanctions on the former President of the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council (HJPC) of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Milan Tegeltija, and the President of the Democratic Action Movement (PDA), Mirsad Kukić, as a result of which they were banned from entering the USA.

Tegeltija and Kukić, who is a member of the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina, were put on the "black list" due to "involvement in significant corrupt activities", according to the statement of US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken.

"By putting Tegeltija and Kukić on the list, they are prevented from entering the USA. Through their actions, they undermined the rule of law and the public's trust in democratic institutions of government and public processes, as well as peace and prosperity for the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina," it states.

It is added that Tegeltija, using the official position of the president of the Supreme Court, "participated in corrupt actions that included the use of political influence and official position for personal gain."

"Specifically, there is credible information that Tegeltija used his position to gain benefits in exchange for interfering in the judicial process and manipulating appointments to judicial positions, and employment to other public positions," the State Department said in a statement.

Tegelti's wife, Tijana Tegelti, was also put on the "black list" of the USA.

Mirsad Kukić is said to have "participated in corrupt activities for personal gain, using the official position of director of the public company Rudnik Banovići and the political influence of a member of the Parliamentary Assembly".

Also today, the US Department of Finance announced that it imposed sanctions on the Serbian member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Milorad Dodik, in response to his corrupt activities and continuous threats to the stability and territorial integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The US Department of Finance's Office for Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) also imposed sanctions on Alternative Television from Banja Luka, which is said to be "under the control" of Dodik.

The Sarajevo portal Kliks announced that the USA could impose sanctions on more than 50 persons from Bosnia and Herzegovina.