US Imposes New Sanctions on Bosnian Serb Leader's Network

The U.S. government has intensified its sanctions regime targeting individuals and entities connected with Milorad Dodik, the president of Bosnia's autonomous Republika Srpska, and his son. The latest measures were announced today by the U.S. Department of the Treasury, identifying additional individuals aiding Dodik in circumventing existing sanctions.

Milorad Dodik, a Russia-aligned figure who openly supports the separation of the Republika Srpska from Bosnia, has previously faced sanctions from both the U.S. and the UK. His children, Igor Dodik and Gorica Dodik, along with their businesses, were also subjected to U.S. sanctions in October 2023 for their roles in perpetuating corruption linked to their father.

In June 2024, the U.S. imposed sanctions on two individuals and a corporate group alleged to have created wealth for both Milorad and Igor Dodik. Reports indicate that despite the sanctions, Igor has maintained control over these companies through loyal proxies.

Today, the Treasury Department stated that Vladimir Perisic, general director of Prointer ITSS, which was sanctioned in June, continues to make business decisions under the direction of Igor Dodik. Additionally, a new company named Elpring has emerged to effectively replace the formerly sanctioned Kaldera company, falling under Igor Dodik's control. Consequently, both Perisic and Elpring have been added to the U.S. sanctions list.

The U.S. asserts that Milorad Dodik's actions have undermined the Dayton Peace Agreement of 1995, which ended the Bosnian war and established two autonomous regions within the country. The implementation of these new sanctions coincided with the anniversary of Donald Trump's second term as President of the United States, a result that Dodik welcomed.