The United States today imposed sanctions on eight individuals involved in organizing the unconstitutional commemoration of Republika Srpska (RS) Day on January 8-10, 2024, in support of RS President Milorad Dodik’s secessionist agenda. Seven of these individuals also played roles in planning and organizing the 2025 commemoration.

The U.S. government emphasized that these events, directed and overseen by Dodik, defy the 1995 Dayton Peace Agreement, which underpins peace and stability in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The RS commemorations have been ruled unconstitutional by the BiH Constitutional Court. According to U.S. officials, these actions undermine the territorial integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina and threaten the authority of the Dayton framework, the Constitutional Court, and the High Representative.

In addition to the eight individuals, the U.S. Treasury Department announced sanctions against five individuals and one entity tied to the Dodik family’s financial patronage network. The sanctions target Dodik’s alleged misuse of his official position to accumulate personal wealth through businesses linked to his family and trusted associates. These measures aim to disrupt efforts by Dodik and his network to obscure their involvement and evade previous U.S. sanctions.

The Dayton Peace Agreement and the Constitution of Bosnia and Herzegovina are described as essential to the country’s democratic and multiethnic framework. President Joe Biden’s January 8, 2025, Executive Order, which expanded U.S. sanctions authorities in the Western Balkans, reflects the U.S. commitment to accountability for those undermining the rule of law and peace in the region.

Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik has been the subject of U.S. sanctions multiple times. The Treasury Department designated Dodik on January 5, 2022, and July 17, 2017, citing his ongoing efforts to undermine the Dayton Peace Agreement and the stability of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

These measures signal the U.S. government’s continued resolve to counter actions that jeopardize regional peace and security, reaffirming its commitment to upholding the principles of the Dayton Agreement.