Republika Srpska hires US PR firm behind website demanding sanctions against High Representative

On its official website, DCI Group presents itself as a public relations agency specializing in strategic communications and consulting, describing its staff as seasoned political operatives and industry experts. However, Detektor established that DCI Group also appears as the content distributor for Sanctionchristianschmidt.com on behalf of Republika Srpska.

The website presents a series of allegations against former High Representative Christian Schmidt, calling for him to be sanctioned by the United States. The portal asserts that Schmidt has ruled Bosnia and Herzegovina with unlimited authority without UN Security Council approval and used Bonn Powers to benefit Bosniaks at the expense of Bosnian Serbs. Furthermore, it claims Schmidt unlawfully removed democratically elected Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik from office after amending the Criminal Code of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

In reality, the Appeals Division of the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina upheld a final verdict sentencing Milorad Dodik to one year in prison for failing to implement decisions made by the High Representative, leading to the termination of his presidential mandate. Legal expert Sabina Mehic noted that the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina cited Constitutional Court rulings confirming the High Representative's authority to intervene in the nation's legal framework as a legislative authority.

The website also makes allegations regarding changes to election legislation and new voting technologies, claiming voting machines were linked to electoral fraud in other countries. Domain records indicate Sanctionchristianschmidt.com was registered on 16 September 2026 during the election campaign. Harun Iseric, an assistant at the Faculty of Law at the University of Sarajevo, described the platform as part of a broader narrative by Republika Srpska leadership aimed at undermining the Central Election Commission and discriminating against Bosniaks.

When asked whether the site was directly covered by the government contract, Nemanja Kovacevic, Assistant Minister for International Cooperation in Republika Srpska, refused to disclose details, stating that all contracts carry a confidentiality label. Iseric criticized this secrecy, recalling that the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina previously prohibited budget funding for lobbying from Republika Srpska, a ruling local authorities dismissed as politically motivated.

The website also cites US Representative Celeste Maloy, who reportedly asked the US Department of the Treasury to investigate whether Schmidt and election officials could face Global Magnitsky sanctions over Dodik's removal. Iseric noted the significance of the letter is limited as it was signed by only one member of Congress, though he cautioned against underestimating lobbying efforts. Requests for comment sent by Detektor to DCI Group, the Central Election Commission, and the Office of the High Representative yielded no response prior to publication. Previous investigations reveal Republika Srpska has spent around 10 million marks (approx. €5.11 million) of public money on US lobbying.