U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has imposed sanctions on Elpring d.o.o. laktasi (Elpring) company, and Vladimir Perisic, the general director of Prointer ITSS, designated by OFAC on June 18, 2024.
OFAC states that Perisic and Elpring were part of a network that helped the President of Republika Srpska to evade the effects of US sanctions.
Previously, the President of Republika Srpski, Milorad Dodik, and his son Igor Dodik were designated by the United States. However, at present, Milorad uses his official position to accumulate wealth through companies associated with himself and Igor, according to OFAC.
OFAC has revealed Vladimir Perisic’s involvement in a corrupt kickback scheme to support the Dodik family and the business of Elpring d.o.o., which was established to replace a sanctioned company, Kaldera, that had been awarded lucrative government contracts.
In October 2024, Miroslav Dodik came to Russia and complained about the sanctions against him to President Vladimir Putin.
He said: “Unfortunately, sanctions are being imposed against us, personally against me, against my family, against the Chairman of Parliament, our Assembly, against the Chairman of the Government, members of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina. They are trying to influence our position so that we join what they persistently want to achieve with sanctions against your country. Of course, we refuse to do this, we refuse to impose sanctions against you. And two days ago we refused to comply with the requirement that Bosnia and Herzegovina introduce visas for Russian citizens, and this is an example of what we will not allow.”
