The US sanctions individuals and companies that support Milorad Dodik

The United States on Wednesday sanctioned three individuals and four companies, part of Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik's network, that enabled the pro-Russian leader's family's continued efforts to evade US sanctions.

A US State Department announcement said the move also includes sanctioning Stasha Kosharac, a politician from Bosnia and Herzegovina who serves as a key supporter of Dodik's corruption and destabilizing political agenda.

The American government has previously sanctioned Dodik for, among other things, involvement in corruption.

"For years, Dodik has used his official position to amass personal wealth through companies linked to him and his son, Igor Dodik. This corruption has damaged public trust in state institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the rule of law. The Dodik network has continued its deliberate efforts to circumvent American sanctions by manipulating management structures and re-registering the sanctioned companies with new names," DASH's announcement states.

Today's action, the announcement states, further reveals "the flagrant and corrupt efforts of the Dodik family to enrich themselves and circumvent American sanctions", while it is emphasized that "the United States will continue to target those who facilitate corruption of Dodik and enable his efforts to advance destabilizing activities in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

This is the fourth time this year alone that the United States has sanctioned individuals and companies that provide wealth to the Bosnian Serb leader and his family.

The United States has imposed sanctions on Milorad Dodik first on July 17, 2017 for obstructing the implementation of the Dayton Peace Agreement of 1995, which ended the bloody war in Bosnia, which left more than 100,000 dead. and millions displaced.

At the end of the war, Bosnia was divided into two autonomous regions, the Republika Srpska and the Bosnian-Croat Federation, linked by a weak central government in Sarajevo.

Milorad Dodiku relies on Russian support in his stances on the secession of Republika Srpska, while there is widespread fear in the West that Moscow is trying to destabilize Bosnia and the rest of the Balkan region, to shift at least some of the world's attention. from its war in Ukraine. /VOA (A2 Televizion)