The Biden administration imposed sanctions on Bosnian Serb officials for backing legislation sponsored by Bosnia and Herzegovina President Milorad Dodik, which the United States claims poses a threat to the Dayton Accords. File Photo by Fehim Demir/EPA-EFE
Aug. 1 (UPI) — In its ongoing effort to punish those undermining the peace agreement that ended the Bosnian War, the Biden administration has sanctioned four top Bosnian Serb officials.
On Monday, the State and Treasury departments announced the sanctions against these officials, accusing them of supporting a controversial legislation that directs the state to disregard rulings by the Bosnia Herzegovina Constitutional Court.
The Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republika Srpska are the two entities comprising the country of Bosnia and Herzegovina, established in 1995 with the signing of the Dayton Accords. These accords brought an end to the violent three-and-a-half-year Bosnian War, which resulted in the deaths of approximately 100,000 people.
The Biden administration has consistently taken actions against those it believes are attempting to undermine this agreement. It has repeatedly imposed sanctions on officials who pursue secessionist actions that threaten the hard-won peace.
On Monday, the U.S. departments blacklisted individuals who supported the bill sponsored by Republika President Milorad Dodik, a figure designated by the United States. Dodik signed this legislation into law on July 7.
“This new legislation is a blatant attempt to undermine state institutions,” stated Matthew Miller, spokesperson for the State Department in a press release.
“The law poses a threat to the stability, sovereignty, territorial integrity of BiH, as well as the country’s prospects for integration into Euro-Atlantic and European institutions, at the expense of the people of BiH.”
The individuals blacklisted are Nenad Stevandic, the speaker and president of the Republika Srpska National Assembly; Radovan Viskovic, the Republika Srpska Prime Minister; Zeljka Cvijanovic, a Serbian member of the Bosnia and Herzegovina presidency; and Milos Bukejlovic, the Justice Minister of Republika Srpska.
“We will continue to support the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina in their efforts to uphold the rule of law and ensure peace and prosperity prevail,” stated Brian E. Nelson, Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, in a press release.
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