The Slovenian government has imposed sanctions on former Republika Srpska (RS) President Milorad Dodik, effectively banning him from entering Slovenia. The decision had been under discussion for the past two weeks but was finalized only after the government requested and reviewed additional documentation.

According to Slovenian media, the initial sanctions package was also expected to include Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, but this has not been officially confirmed.

On August 1, the Appellate Court of the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina upheld a first-instance verdict against Dodik, sentencing him to one year in prison and six years of disqualification from holding public office. The ruling was issued for failing to comply with the decisions of the international community’s High Representative in BiH, Christian Schmidt.

On August 6, the Central Election Commission (CEC) of BiH annulled Dodik’s mandate as leader of the Bosnian Serbs.

Dodik is widely seen as the closest ally of Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić and is already under U.S. sanctions. He frequently criticizes the EU and NATO while advocating for closer ties with BRICS and maintaining strong relations with Vladimir Putin, whom he has met in Moscow on multiple occasions.

In June 2024, Dodik, leading a delegation from RS, participated in the All-Serb Assembly, which adopted a declaration supporting the goals of the “Serbian World” doctrine, spearheaded by Serbian Deputy PM Aleksandar Vulin, who is also under U.S. sanctions.

Dodik is also known for denying the Srebrenica genocide of 1995, during which Bosnian Serb forces, commanded by Gen. Ratko Mladić and Radovan Karadžić, massacred more than 9,000 Bosniak civilians — an atrocity recognized by the UN General Assembly as a war crime. | BGNES