The US Treasury Department Monday imposed sanctions on two senior officials in Bosnia and Herzegovina for allegedly threatening the stability of the region and democratic processes. Under Executive Order 14033, Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina President Marinko Cavara and Republika Srpska Minister of Health and Social Welfare Alen Seranic have been sanctioned.

Both Cavara and Seranic are accused of violating the 1995 Dayton Peace Agreement, a US-sponsored treaty which ended Bosnia’s interethnic war and established the two governing entities (Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Republika Srpska). The Bosnian war, which broke out after the breakup of Yugoslavia, resulted in the death of 100,000 Serbs, Croats and Bosniaks.

The US accuses Cavara of blocking the function of the Constitutional Court’s Vital National Interest panel. The panel is responsible for addressing key issues raised by the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina House of Peoples. The US claims that Cavara has held the democratic functions of the panel “to further his and his party’s political interests.”

Seranic was sanctioned for his role in destabilizing activity in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Specifically, the US alleges that Seranic helped further secession efforts by the Republika Srpska, the entity opposite of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the region. Seranic helped implement the Law on Medicines and Medicinal Products, which would establish a new medicines agency within the sole control of the Republika Srpska. The US claims that this action would disrupt the Bosnia and Herzegovina state-level agency.

As a result of Monday’s sanctions, all property and property interests belonging to Cavara and Seranic located or controlled by the US are blocked. Any violation of these sanctions may result in civil or criminal penalties.