INTEGRAL AND Slobodan Stanković, businessman linked to Dodik, on US blacklist

8patria) - The US has announced a new list of sanctions. In addition to Fadil Novalić, Slobodan Stanković, a businessman linked to Milorad Dodik, is also on the sanctions list.

- Slobodan Stanković, one of the wealthiest individuals in BiH, has long been the owner of Integral Inženjering A.D. Laktaši (Integral), a large engineering firm in RS. Both Stanković and Integral are linked to corruption in the construction sector, where Integral has won some of the largest projects in RS thanks to its proximity to the RS leadership. Large construction projects are often awarded to Stanković without fair and open competition. The vast majority of Stanković's wealth comes from public funds.

Stanković is also the former owner of Alternativna televizija d.o.o. Banja Luka (ATV), a media outlet under the personal control of US and corrupt member of the BiH Presidency Milorad Dodik (Dodik), whose secessionist rhetoric and actions in RS threaten stability and undermine the DPA. Stanković's purchase of ATV led to the outlet becoming overtly biased in favor of Dodik. The purchase and transformation of ATV demonstrates the reciprocal nature of Dodik's corrupt relationships, as Stanković's wealth provides Dodik with a wealthy and powerful ally who is politically useful to him.

Stanković was today designated pursuant to E.O. 14033 for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to Dodik or in his support. Integral was today named pursuant to E.O. 14033 for being owned or controlled by, or for having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Stanković.

Dodik was previously designated pursuant to E.O. 13219, as amended by E.O. 13304, for actively obstructing and posing a significant risk of actively obstructing the DPA and pursuant to E.O. 14033 for being responsible for or complicit in, or for having directly or indirectly engaged in, a violation of or an action that has obstructed or threatened the implementation of the DPA, and for being responsible or complicit in, or for having directly or indirectly engaged in, corruption related to the Western Balkans. ATV was previously designated pursuant to E.O. 14033 for being owned or controlled by Dodik, or for having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Dodik – it is stated.