Back to the Balkans: OFAC sanctions Dodik for ‘destabilising activity’

On 5 January, the US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (‘OFAC’) designated Bosnian Serb politician Milorad Dodik, who is a member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina (‘BiH’), and an entity under his control, Alternativna Televizija d.o.o. Banja Luka, in response to ‘Dodik’s corrupt activities and continued threats to the stability and territorial integrity of BiH.’

OFAC said the action builds on the US government’s ‘bid to promote accountability for those who, among other things, undermine the stability of the Western Balkans region through corruption and threats to long-standing peace agreements.’

It said, ‘Dodik has undermined BiH institutions by calling for the seizure of state competencies and setting in motion the creation of parallel institutions in BiH’s Republika Srpska (RS) entity. Furthermore, Dodik has used his official BiH position to accumulate personal wealth through graft, bribery, and other forms of corruption. His divisive ethno-nationalistic rhetoric reflects his efforts to advance these political goals and distract attention from his corrupt activities. Cumulatively, these actions threaten the stability, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of BiH and undermine the Dayton Peace Accords, thereby risking wider regional instability.’

https://home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/financial-sanctions/recent-actions/20220105