The Ministry of Finance of the United States introduced new sanctions for the President of Republika Srpska Milorad Dodik.
According to the ministry, sanctions were imposed on the "pro-Russian nationalist leader of the Bosnian Serbs" as well as on other individuals and entities associated with him.
Gorica and Igor Dodik, the son and daughter of the president of Republika Srpska, are also on the ministry's list from October 20.
In addition to them, the list includes the restaurant "Agape" owned by Gorica and Ivana Dodik, the company "Agrovoće" which is associated with Gorica, as well as the company "Fruit Eco" which is associated with Igor Dodik, as well as the company " Global Liberty" which are linked to Igor and Gorica.
"Members of this network, including Dodik's children, facilitate Dodik's corruption in the Bosnia and Herzegovina entity of the RS, enabling him to draw public funds from the RS and enrich himself and his family at the expense of the citizens of BiH and the functional authorities of the country," it is stated in announcement of the Ministry of Finance.
It is added that Dodik, who was previously a member of the BiH Presidency, used and still uses his official position in BiH to "accumulate personal wealth through bribery, bribery and other forms of corruption. His ethno-nationalist rhetoric of division reflects his efforts to achieve these political goals and distracts attention from his own corrupt activities," the US Treasury Department said in a statement.
It is also added that Dodik publicly humiliates "other ethnic and religious groups in BiH, which deepens the divisions and political impasse."
The USA imposed sanctions against Dodik on January 5, 2022, but also on July 17, 2017, for obstructing the Dayton Peace Agreement.
"With the financial and political support of individuals and companies that are included in the list today, Dodik is involved in corrupt activities that allow him personal financial and political stability at the expense of the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina who live in the Republic of Srpska," said the undersecretary for the fight against terrorism and for financial Treasury Department Intelligence, Brian E. Nelson.
"We will continue to hold accountable those whose activities contribute to the degradation and undermining of institutions in BiH and the Western Balkans, as well as the Dayton Peace Agreement."
Dodik is also under the sanctions of Great Britain.
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