
The United States has removed former Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik and Bosnian Presidency member Zelja Cvijanovic from its sanctions list, the Treasury Department announced on Wednesday.
In addition to them, Dodik's family members, their companies and close associates have also been removed from the blacklist.
Dodik, the president of the Alliance of Independent Social Democrats, was sanctioned twice for violating the Dayton Peace Agreement.
In addition, 48 individuals and legal entities, previously sanctioned under the Western Balkans Sanctions Program, were removed from the sanctions list.
Weeks ago, OFAC removed from the sanctions list four individuals from the Bosnian Serb entity, Republika Srpska, who were involved in organizing the unconstitutional January 9th celebrations.
These are sanctions for Danijela Dragičević, Jelena Pajić Bastinac, Dijana Milanković and Goran Raković.
In December last year, the authorities of Republika Srpska signed a contract with the American law firm "Zell & Associates International Advocates" to lobby the US to lift sanctions against Milorad Dodik and Željka Cvijanović, promote dialogue between the Republika Srpska administration and Donald Trump, and review the Dayton Agreement and the role of the High Representative in Bosnia.
According to the registration document to which Radio Free Europe (RFE) has had access, the law firm will achieve these goals in the US through communication with representatives of local executive and legislative authorities, as well as the non-governmental sector.
So far, Republika Srpska's contracts with lobbying and law firms in the US have mainly concerned investment promotion and legal advice, and these services have cost tens of thousands of dollars per month.