The US has imposed sanctions on 10 individuals and 20 entities in the Western Balkans to contain Russian influence. The sanctions are the latest imposed by the US on politicians, other individuals, and organisations designed to contain Russian efforts to prevent the region’s integration into international institutions. The sanctions freeze all property and other assets those targeted have in the United States or are controlled by U.S. citizens and generally prohibit Americans from doing business with them.
The sanctions target individuals from Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, and North Macedonia. Savo Cvijetinovic, a senior official of the political party led by Milorad Dodik, the pro-Russia leader of Republika Srpska (RS), is under U.S. sanctions for alleged corruption and promoting the secession of the Serb-dominated half of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Cvijetinovic is the RS representative of a firm owned by a former Russian Air Force deputy chief that „facilitated the illegal transfer” of Ukrainian-made helicopter engines to Russia.
Petar Djokic, Dodik’s minister of industry, energy, and mining, was also targeted for lobbying for meetings between Dodik and Russian President Vladimir Putin, serving as a go-between the RS government and an unidentified Russian billionaire and working for two of the billionaire’s firms. Perovic denied to SRNA being involved in any business in Russia and said his main duty was to lobby for the RS and Dodik.
CENTRAL EASTERN EUROPE NEWS
US Hit Balkans With Sanctions to Curb Russian Influence
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