On January 5, 2021, the US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) sanctioned one individual and one entity, representing the first designations imposed pursuant to EO 14033 targeting those who undermine the stability of the Western Balkans region through acts of corruption and threats to its long-standing peace agreements. OFAC designated Milorad Dodik, a member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), and Alternativna Televizija d.o.o. Banja Luka, a media outlet that Dodik controls.
According to OFAC, Dodik has used his official position for personal gain by engaging in bribery and other forms of corruption, including the award of certain government contracts to close business associates, and has openly called for the unilateral transfer of state competencies from BiH to the Republicka Srpska, one of two entities that comprise BiH. Dodik was also previously designated in 2017 pursuant to EO 13304 for his efforts to actively obstruct the DPA.
As a result of these designations, all property and interests in property of today’s designees within the United States or within the possession or control of a U.S. person are blocked, and U.S. persons are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions involving the designated persons. In addition, entities owned 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked.
Department of Treasury Press Release