US Department of Treasury introduced new sanctions for the family of Milorad Dodik – his daughter Gorica and son Igor.

According to the Department, sanctions were imposed on the “pro-Russian nationalist leader of the Bosnian Serbs” as well as other individuals and entities associated with him.

The USA imposed sanctions against Dodik on January 5, 2022, as well as on July 17, 2017, for obstructing the Dayton Peace Agreement.

Gorica and Igor Dodik, the daughter and son of the Republika Srpska (RS) entity President, are also on the Department’s list.

Apart from them, the list includes the restaurant “Agape” owned by Gorica and Ivana Dodik, the company “Agrovoce” which is associated with Gorica, as well as the company “Fruit Eco” which is associated with Igor Dodik, and the company ” Global Liberty” which is linked to Igor and Gorica.

US Treasury Department wrote the following statement regarding the reasons for the latest sanctions:

Since 2021, Dodik has increased the involvement of his son, Igor Dodik (Igor), and daughter, Gorica Dodik (Gorica), in political and business activities within the RS, causing concern that the RS was becoming more like a Dodik family business rather than a political entity of BiH. The extent of the Dodik family’s corruption has also drawn concern from nations interested in providing foreign investment funds to the RS, leading some to refrain from doing so because they believed that any financial assistance would likely go to Dodik and his family rather than RS institutions.

In a recent RS election, the Alliance of Independent Social Democrats (SNSD), including Dodik and Igor, conspired to bribe political officials, polling station members, and election observers in effort to corruptly win the election. Igor engaged in bribery of opposition politicians, who were offered political appointments in exchange for critical information and election observer positions at polling locations.

Dodik’s daughter, Gorica, is involved in handling political and business activities for her father, to include owning several entities that receive substantial RS government assistance at Dodik’s direction.

OFAC is designating Igor pursuant to E.O. 14033 for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, Dodik, a person whose proper7ty and interests in property are blocked pursuant to E.O. 14033.

OFAC is designating Gorica pursuant to E.O. 14033 for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, Dodik, a person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to E.O. 14033.

RS-based businesses Global Liberty d.o.o. Laktasi (Global Liberty), Agro Voce d.o.o. Laktasi (Agro Voce), Agape Gorica Dodik i Ivana Dodik s.p. Banja Luka (Agape), and Fruit Eco d.o.o. Gradiska (Gradiska) are a collection of commercial entities operating in the BiH, including operations in the restaurant and wholesale materials sectors. All these entities receive RS public assistance through preferential treatment as a result of being owned by Dodik's family.

OFAC is designating Global Liberty for being owned or controlled by, or having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Igor and Gorica.

OFAC is designating Agro Voce and Agape for being owned or controlled by, or having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Gorica.

OFAC is designating Gradiska for being owned or controlled by, or having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Igor.

Sanctions and implications

As a result of today’s action, all property and interests in property of the designated persons described above that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons are blocked and must be reported to OFAC. In addition, any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, individually or in the aggregate, 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked. All transactions by U.S. persons within (or transiting) the United States that involve any property or interests in property of designated or otherwise blocked persons are prohibited unless authorized by a general or specific license issued by OFAC, or exempt. The prohibitions include the making of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services by, to, or for the benefit of any blocked person, or the receipt of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services from any such person.

In addition, financial institutions and other persons that engage in certain transactions or activities with the sanctioned individuals may expose themselves to sanctions or be subject to an enforcement action.