Mania filmed a video glorifying RS and January 9th, but is shocked by sanctions

(Patria) - The UK government today imposed sanctions on the marketing agency "Mania" from Banja Luka, for organizing and promoting the Day of Republika Srpska - January 9th. The agency states that they are shocked by this decision.

"We are surprised by today's unpleasant information that a reaction from the UK government has followed due to our professional engagement as a marketing agency.

First of all, because in almost ten years of Mania agency's existence, we have successfully collaborated with many domestic and foreign clients and organizations, and built a credible name in the marketing industry. Among other things, we have worked on projects for the EU, GIZ, UNICEF, UNDP, USAID, but also on projects with the British Embassy. That same embassy invited us to participate in a round table as an example of successful entrepreneurs as drivers of change at the local and state level.

We are also recognized for successful projects in cooperation with various brands in which we promoted Bosnia and Herzegovina. We have won competitions twice and represented BiH at the largest international marketing festival in Cannes. Various awards for the quality of our work won at festivals around the world (Los Angeles, Tokyo, Berlin, Madrid, and many others) indicate that our work is recognized internationally.

For the specific engagement that led to the UK government's reaction, as well as for all other domestic and foreign projects, we applied through the same procedure to a public call issued by the relevant institution, which anyone on the market could apply for. In doing our job, we adhered to the norms and rules of the profession, and professionally fulfilled the obligations defined by the contracting authority, which were also adhered to by other legal entities engaged in the same project in previous years, and no one was sanctioned.

We hope that such decisions do not send negative messages to other young people that staying in this country and professionally performing their work is possible without various pressures.

The Mania agency employs more than 25 young and talented people who will continue to prove their creativity and quality in the implementation of domestic and foreign projects through professional engagement, without unnecessary politicization."

They also announced themselves on their Facebook profile where they published a video spot they made for January 9th, which includes shots from the parade held on the unconstitutional January 9th, and stated "you do something like this and get sanctions".