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The US Department of the Treasury announced that it has sanctioned three officials who, according to it, have contributed to the efforts of the president of the Republika Srpska entity, Milorad Dodik, to undermine peace and stability in Bosnia and Herzegovina, by organizing and holding the "Day of the Republika Srpska ” on January 9.
This day is considered unconstitutional in Bosnia and Herzegovina. According to the US Treasury, the three sanctioned individuals have aided Dodik's efforts to undermine the Dayton Peace Agreement, the authority of Bosnia's Constitutional Court and the high international representative.
"The United States is deeply concerned about ongoing efforts to undermine the Dayton Peace Accords and the Constitution of Bosnia and Herzegovina, two critical institutions that have been instrumental to peace and stability in the region ," said Treasury Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, Brian Nelson.
" We will continue to hold accountable all those who aim to create divisions to achieve their political goals at the expense of the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina ," he added.
The three sanctioned persons are: Branislav Okuka, Jellena Pajic Bastinac and Srebrenka Golliq.
On January 8, 9 and 10, 2024, the Government of the Republika Srpska entity organized the celebrations for the "Day of the Republika Srpska" contrary to the decisions of the Constitutional Court of Bosnia, which declared this day unconstitutional because it gives priority to "religious heritage , tradition and customs only of the Serbian people" and in this way the constitutional obligation for non-discrimination is violated.
The High Representative, Christian Schmidt, had stated that the note of January 9 represented "a clear and direct failure to implement the final and binding decisions of the Constitutional Court of Bosnia". According to him, such a violation constitutes a criminal offense under the state Penal Code.
Dodik had personally headed an organizing committee for the "Serbian Republic Day" celebrations in the Bosnian Serb entity.
The three sanctioned persons were members of this committee and had participated in the meeting of November 27, 2023, where they published the activities that would be held to mark this day.
According to the Treasury, by facilitating the marking of this unconstitutional holiday, these three people knowingly contradicted the conclusions of the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and the High Representative and "openly showed contempt for the Dayton Peace Agreement".
The US said that these sanctions are also in response to earlier incidents, where these officials were involved in activities "that undermined regional stability.
"These actions are part of the US Government's broader efforts to promote peace, stability and democratic and functional governance in the Western Balkans region ," said the Treasury announcement.
Sanctions include the freezing of all assets and interests that these individuals may have in the US.
Even earlier, the US has sanctioned various officials of the Republika Srpska entity for undermining the Dayton Agreement. On January 5, 2022, Dodik was sanctioned by the US after he was said to be responsible and involved in threatening the implementation of the Dayton Agreement, but also for involvement in corrupt activities.
The President of the Republic of Serbia was sanctioned by the USA in 2017 due to activities that posed a threat and obstacle to the implementation of the Dayton Agreement./ REL
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