The US sanctions an individual and a company linked to Dodik's family

2024-11-06 22:20:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

The United States has imposed sanctions on an individual and a company in Bosnia and Herzegovina, accusing them of supporting a corruption ring in Bosnia and Herzegovina that is trying to evade US sanctions.

The US Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) said this network is directly linked to sanctioned Igor Dodik, the son of Milorad Dodik, the sanctioned president of the Bosnian Serb entity Republika Srpska (RS).

The announcement of sanctions comes on the day Milorad Dodik congratulated the president-elect of the United States, Donald Trump.

"The United States remains committed to highlighting the efforts of Dodik and his family to preserve their networks of corruption," the announcement states.

The new sanctions include Vladimir Perishi? and the company "Elpring doo Laktaši".

OFAC said Dodik has for years used his official position to amass personal wealth through companies linked to him and his son, Igor.

"This corruption has contributed to the undermining of public confidence in Bosnia's state institutions and the rule of law," OFAC said.

"The President of the RS, Milorad Dodik, his associates, and his enablers, continue to use their privileged positions to undermine public confidence in regional peace frameworks and institutions that have brought stability and security. in Bosnia and Herzegovina," said acting Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Bradley T. Smith.

After the sanctioning of the company "Kaldera" on June 18, 2024, Igor Dodik ordered Millenko Qicic, who was previously on the list of those sanctioned, to establish the firm "Elpring doo Laktaši", which would serve as a replacement for "Kaldera".

With Igor's approval, Qicic founded the firm "Elpring" and coordinated the transfer of all assets and operations of the company "Kaldera", including its employees.

On June 18, five companies linked to Dodik's family were included in the US blacklist.

The United States placed Milorad Dodik on the sanctions list on January 5, 2022, because he directly or indirectly participated in violating, or obstructing, or threatening the implementation of the Dayton Agreement, as well as for corrupt activities.

Dodik was previously sanctioned on July 17, 2017, for obstructing or threatening to obstruct the Dayton Agreement./ REL