Slovenian Government Considers Banning Entry for Milorad Dodik and Benjamin Netanyahu

(Patria) - According to N1 information, the Slovenian Government discussed the basis for banning entry into the country for Milorad Dodik, who insists on his position as President of the Republika Srpska despite the final verdict of the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The government has not concluded the discussion, as the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs still needs to supplement the material, but a decision on banning entry into the country is expected to be made at the next session, writes N1.

Shortly before today's session, the government placed an item marked as confidential on the agenda. Even some well-informed sources were unaware of what was hidden under this item. It was later revealed that these were the starting points for banning entry into the country for Milorad Dodik, whose mandate as President of Republika Srpska was revoked by a final verdict of the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and for members of his family. The starting points also state that Slovenia is banning entry for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The material was prepared by the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs (MZEZ) under the leadership of Tanja Fajon, but of course, without the support of Prime Minister Robert Golob, it would not have been included in the government session.

However, according to N1, the government has not yet made a decision on measures against Dodik and Netanyahu, as the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry still needs to supplement the materials. According to our sources, the government is expected to confirm the entry ban at its next session.

Several Reasons for Taking Action Against Milorad Dodik

The government has repeatedly announced that it will continue with sanctions against Israel, but officials have so far avoided a clear answer to questions about why it has not banned Dodik from entering the country. It is not yet known what the Ministry of Environment and Tourism has stated in the materials, but according to unofficial N1 information, there are allegedly several reasons for taking measures against Dodik.

The first is the decision of the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina, by which Dodik was finally sentenced to one year in prison (he avoided going to prison by paying a fine of around 18,000 euros) and a six-year ban from holding political office for disrespecting the decisions of the High Representative.

The second argument for sanctions against Dodik is Slovenia's support for "Dayton BiH" and therefore its strong opposition to Dodik's separatist tendencies and his undermining of state institutions and the constitution.

"We absolutely constantly call on everyone that Bosnia and Herzegovina is one state, which is important for us, the international community on the path to the European Union. That all sides must absolutely abandon any conflicts, undermining the constitution, undermining the Dayton Agreement. What Dodik is actually doing is a major blockade on Bosnia and Herzegovina's path to the European Union," Fajon told TVS in May.

At Least Five Properties on the Coast (Indirectly) Owned by the Dodik Family

Among the reasons for banning Dodik and his family members from entering Slovenia is the well-founded suspicion that they own significant property in Slovenia. These are mainly real estate on the coast, officially owned by relatives and friends of the Dodik family. One of them is a luxury villa in Portorož. It is registered to Đorđe Đurić, who is the son-in-law and trusted person of Dodik's son Igor Dodik. Đurić and Igor Dodik are also business partners, and both are on the US sanctions list.

According to information from the Coast, an apartment in Park Lucija Residence is also linked to the Dodik family. It is owned by the Slovenian company RSB Plus, whose founder Rade Čorić originates from Republika Srpska, and is currently managed by his son Bojan Čorić. It was from this company that Đurić bought the villa in Portorož, and at half the price.

These findings have further fueled speculation that Đurić and Čorić are merely front owners of the mentioned properties, while the actual owners are members of the Dodik family. However, according to unofficial information, there are allegedly even more (indirect) properties owned by the Dodik family on the Coast, some say at least five.