The U.S. Department of the Treasury s Office of Foreign Assets Control OFAC today appointed Diana Kajmakovi a state prosecutor in Bosnia and Herzegovina BiH, pursuant to Executive Order E.O. 14033 for being involved in corruption or the undermining of democratic processes or institutions in the Western Balkans.
Today s action furthers the United States strategy to hold accountable those who carry out destabilizing activities in the Western Balkans. These activities occur in the backdrop of the most serious political crisis in BiH since 1995, as ethno-nationalist politicians and affiliated patronage networks continue to undermine the country.
Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, Brian E. Nelson, said that Diana Kajmakovi has continued to undermine democracy and rule of law in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Today s designation reinforces the United States commitment to a stable and prosperous Bosnia and Herzegovina by targeting an individual who has played a central role in enabling corruption in the country. The BiH State Prosecutor's Office was established with a number of objectives including respect for human rights and the rule of law in the country. Its work is carried out according to the constitution and laws of BiH and requires that prosecutors perform their duties without favor, bias or prejudice. The independence of the BiH judicial system is a requirement for the rule of law.
Diana Kajmakovi is a brazenly corrupt BiH state prosecutor with links to criminal organizations despite her obligations to avoid prosecutorial malfeasance. Investigators analyzed private conversations conducted via encrypted messaging applications as part of a larger crackdown on organized crime and narcotics trafficking in BiH. Kajmakovi, who worked on some of the investigations regarding this activity, was mentioned by the criminals in these encrypted conversations. Kajmakovi helped hide evidence, prevent prosecution, and otherwise assist criminal activity in exchange for personal gain in exchange for narcotics traffickers and other criminals. She tried to block an investigation into her apparent criminal affiliates.
Today, Kajmakovi was appointed under the E.O. 14033 was responsible for being involved in, or having directly or indirectly engaged in, actions or policies that undermine democratic processes or institutions in the Western Balkans. Kajmakovic was also designated pursuant to E.O. 14033 was for being involved in corruption in the Western Balkans and having directly or indirectly involved in it.
As a result of today s action, all property and interests in the property of the designated individual in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons are blocked and must be reported to OFAC. OFAC s regulations prohibit all transactions by U.S. persons or persons within or transiting the United States that involve property or interests in designated or otherwise blocked persons unless authorized by a specific license issued by OFAC or exempt. For violations of these prohibitions, people in the United States can face civil or criminal penalties.
OFAC's ability to designate and add persons to the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons SDN List and OFAC's willingness to remove persons from the SDN List is a factor in the power and integrity of OFAC sanctions. The US Embassy in BiH stated that the ultimate goal of sanctions is not to punish, but to bring about positive change in behavior.