After being placed on the US sanctions list, resulting in banks blocking its accounts, UNA TV has officially announced the cessation of its operations in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, and Macedonia, as well as the shutdown of UNA World Network companies.

“Due to actions by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the US Department of the Treasury, UNA TV in Bosnia and Herzegovina has faced numerous economic and legal challenges over the past few weeks. Despite intense efforts to find the best possible solution to overcome administrative obstacles and ensure the survival of this media house, the new market conditions have proven extremely unfavorable for the continuation of sustainable operations. Although UNA TV in BiH has been synonymous with objective and professional reporting for nearly three years, the imposed barriers have proven stronger than the desire and idea to promote and highlight the best values of our region, directly threatening the livelihood of our employees and their families,” the statement began.

Due to all the aforementioned reasons, they added, they do not have good news.

“We are forced to take these extremely difficult steps. This decision means that more than 80 top professionals, our dedicated and committed journalists, cameramen, editors, other technical staff, and experts from various fields, will lose their jobs. The same number of families will lose a significant financial income, and we fully understand the seriousness of the consequences of the decision we are forced to make. We will do everything in our power to help them during this difficult period,” they emphasized, adding:

“During three years of work, UNA TV has brought together a team of exceptional people, top experts whom we provided with the best working conditions in the entire region. We selected them based on credibility, professionalism, and the belief that they could best achieve the vision and mission of our house. Therefore, we want to thank everyone again for their loyalty and dedication, particularly aware of the enormous enthusiasm and effort invested to create a promising, modern, and quality television. Unfortunately, irrational circumstances, sanctions imposed on us without any evidence or arguments, have determined a different outcome – the shutdown of a dream media team and an idea of reconciliation and promoting positive values. We also thank our partners and clients for the trust and support they have provided since the beginning of UNA TV's operations in BiH.”

To recall, the US Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) placed seven companies from Bosnia and Herzegovina and two individuals on the blacklist in June this year, citing them as providing main sources of income for Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik and his family.

Among these companies is UNA World Network, which is also linked to the family of the president of the BiH entity, Milorad Dodik, who is on the blacklist for, as stated, corrupt activities and undermining the Dayton Agreement.

“Dodik has used his official position to direct RS Government contracts to a network of private companies that he and Igor oversee. While Igor controls many companies in this network, he conceals his personal connection with the companies by relying on various nominal owners and directors,” OFAC stated at the time.