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Treasury Sanctions Republika Srpska President Dodik's Patronage Network and Individuals in Bosnia and Herzegovina for Undermining Regional Peace and the Rule of Law
The US Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated 5 individuals and one entity aiding Republika Srpska (RS) President Milorad Dodik and his family's efforts to enrich themselves at public expense.
Today's decision also targets 8 individuals who, under the leadership of Dodik, organized and commemorated the "Day of Republika Srpska" (RS Day) in January 2024, in violation of the principles of the Dayton Peace Agreement (DPA) and the decision of the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina that declared it unconstitutional.
“Today’s action highlights Dodik’s ongoing efforts to undermine the democratic and multiethnic framework that defines modern Bosnia and Herzegovina,” said Acting Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Bradley T. Smith.
He said that "the United States, using our authority, remains committed to thwarting any efforts by Dodik and his friends to enrich themselves and destabilize the region."
The Dodiks' efforts to enrich themselves led to OFAC sanctioning of the Dodiks' corrupt patronage network, including several entities and individuals under the direct control of Igor Dodik, the son of Milorad Dodik.
While Igor controls many of the companies in this network, he masks his personal connection to the companies by relying on separate owners and nominee directors. Today’s action builds on OFAC’s recent determinations and utilizes the expanded authorities of EO 14033, as amended, to thwart efforts to circumvent sanctions.
Pavle Corovic is the husband of US-sanctioned Gorica Dodik and the director of US-sanctioned Global Liberty doo Laktasi. Along with other Dodik-linked entities, Global Liberty has received lucrative incentives from the RS budget.
OFAC sanctioned Corovic pursuant to EO 14033, as amended, for owning or controlling, directly or indirectly, Global Liberty, a person whose property and property interests are blocked pursuant to EO 14033.
Radmila Bojanic and Nemanja Reljin, based in BiH, are the director and owner of Nimbus Innovations doo Banja Luka, respectively. Previously, Bojanic and Reljin served in the same roles for Sirius 2010 doo Banja Luka before Sirius officially merged with Nimbus. Nimbus and Sirius were assigned to be controlled by Igor. Bojanic provided Igor with business updates and sought Igor's approval before proceeding with business decisions.
OFAC is designating Bojanic and Relji pursuant to EO 14033, as amended, for owning or controlling, directly or indirectly, Nimbus, whose property and interests are blocked pursuant to EO 14033.
To benefit from businesses both directly and indirectly under his control, Igor relies on strategic insights from associates who serve his interests. For example, BiH citizen Sinisa Dodik has reported to Igor on numerous high-level developments and advised him on business opportunities.
Igor and Serbian citizen Marko Gujanicic were publicly identified in a scheme related to media research and public opinion polling in BiH, where they sought to benefit from a recent regulatory change, which was subsequently annulled by a BiH court for being unlawfully restrictive and contrary to the public interest. Both Igor and Gujanicic were involved in the formation of SEE Media Research LTD (SEE Media Research) based in Cyprus and in local operations in BiH.
Igor worked with associates between at least September 2023 and July 2024 to ensure that his preferred company would have a monopoly on television viewership measurement. In addition, Gujanicic informed Igor of a strategy to manipulate television poll responses to further their goals.
OFAC sanctions Sinisa and Gujanicic pursuant to EO 14033, as amended, for materially assisting, sponsoring, or providing financial, material, or technological support to, or goods or services for or in support of, Igor, a person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to EO 14033.
OFAC sanctions SEE Media Research under EO 14033, as amended, for being owned or controlled by, or having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Gujanicic, a person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to EO 14033, as amended.
Beyond his key role in overseeing the 2024 event, Dodik recently led the planning of RS Day 2025. To assist in planning RS Day 2025, Dodik instructed public officials — including Dragičević, Karan, Milanković, Selman and Panic — to support efforts related to various organizations. All of these officials agreed to follow Dodik’s instructions and worked to ensure that RS Day 2025 events were organized according to his wishes. Karan, Dragičević, Raković, Panic, Milanković, Selman and Kuzmanović were officially appointed to serve on the RS Day 2025 Organizing Committee by the RSNA. Despite repeated statements by the CC of BiH and the High Representative, these officials have continued to engage in behavior that undermines the DPA.
OFAC is designating Karan, Dragicevic, Rakovic, Panic, Milankovic, Selman, Kuzmanovic, and Filipovic pursuant to EO 14033, as amended, for being responsible for or complicit in, directly or indirectly engaged in, or attempted to engage in, a violation of, or an act that has obstructed or threatened the implementation of any regional security, peace, cooperation, or recognition agreement or framework or accountability mechanism, or that poses a substantial risk of committing such an act, related to the Western Balkans, including the 2018 Prespa Agreement; the 2001 Ohrid Framework Agreement; United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244; the Dayton Agreement; or the Conclusions of the Peace Implementation Council of the Conference held in London in December 1995, including decisions or conclusions of the High Representative, the Peace Implementation Council or its Steering Board; or the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, or, in relation to the former Yugoslavia, the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals.
As a result of today's action, all property and interests of the designated persons described above that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons are blocked and must be reported to OFAC. In addition, any entity that is owned directly or indirectly, individually or in the aggregate, 50 percent or more by one or more of the designated persons is also blocked. / Adapt Pamphlet /
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