US lawmaker pressures treasury to probe officials over removal of former RS President Milorad Dodik

Republican Representative Celeste Maloy of Utah sent an August 31 letter asking the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) to review allegations that former High Representative Christian Schmidt and members of the Central Election Commission of Bosnia and Herzegovina interfered with the democratic process in the country's Serb-majority entity. A senior Bosnian Serb lawmaker subsequently told the Daily Caller News Foundation that Schmidt, election officials, prosecutors, and judges involved in Dodik's removal should face US sanctions.

The Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina convicted Dodik in February 2025 of failing to implement decisions of the High Representative after he signed legislation that Schmidt had blocked from taking effect. An appeals panel upheld the conviction in June, resulting in a one-year prison sentence and a six-year ban on serving as president of Republika Srpska.

"I write regarding information recently submitted to the Office of Foreign Assets Control concerning actions taken by then-High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina Christian Schmidt and the Central Election Commission of Bosnia and Herzegovina to remove the democratically elected President of Republika Srpska," Maloy wrote. Maloy stated that she understood OFAC had received materials alleging the conduct could constitute interference with a democratic process or violate the Global Magnitsky program, asking the agency for an expeditious review.

Radovan Kovacevic, a delegate to the House of Peoples of the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina, welcomed the inquiry. Kovacevic accused Schmidt of improperly modifying the criminal code in July 2023 to create an offense for defying the High Representative's decisions before prosecuting Dodik. When asked if Washington should sanction the officials involved, Kovacevic answered affirmatively, targeting Schmidt, election officials, prosecutors, and judges.

The development follows years of political confrontation between Dodik and Western governments. Schmidt announced in May that he would end his nearly five-year tenure, with Louis Crishock taking over as acting High Representative on July 1. While the Trump administration previously removed sanctions against Dodik and several Republika Srpska-linked individuals in October 2025, the State Department maintains its official policy supporting the Dayton Peace Agreement and the territorial integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina.