US lawmakers urge Trump to reinstate sanctions on Republika Srpska officials

Republika Srpska Srebrenica Memorial Center US sanctions Donald Trump Milorad Dodik

A bipartisan group of U.S. senators and representatives, including Jeanne Shaheen, Roger Wicker, Chuck Grassley, Dick Durbin, Bill Keating and Mike Turner, urged the Trump administration to re‑impose sanctions on officials of Republika Srpska that were lifted in October 2025. The lawmakers said the request follows the recent questioning of staff and former staff of the Srebrenica Memorial Center – 26 people have been summoned by police in Zvornik, with seven already interrogated – and warned that such intimidation threatens the truth‑keeping mission of the centre.

The senators cited the 2022 U.S. Defense Authorization Act, which permits sanctions against individuals who threaten security, stability or territorial integrity in the Western Balkans. They reiterated that the Srebrenica massacre was genocide and called for the sanctions to be applied under the 2026 fiscal‑year National Defense Authorization. The White House and State Department have not responded to the request.

Memorial Center director Emir Suljagić thanked the U.S. lawmakers, stating the centre will not be intimidated and will continue to defend the truth and honor the victims.

Entities: Chuck Grassley · Emir Suljagic · Jeanne Shaheen · Milorad Dodik · Republika Srpska · Roger Wicker · Srebrenica Memorial Center · Srebrenica Memorial Center · United States

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.

[● 11 SOURCES] The sanctions on Republika Srpska officials were lifted in October 2025. (US lawmakers)
[● 11 SOURCES] The 2022 U.S. Defense Authorization Act allows sanctions against persons who threaten security, stability, or territorial integrity in the Western Balkans. (U.S. law)
[● 11 SOURCES] The White House and State Department have not responded to the lawmakers' request for sanctions. (U.S. officials)
[● 11 SOURCES] Lawmakers cited the interrogations of Srebrenica Memorial Center staff as a reason for sanctions. (US lawmakers)
[● 2 SOURCES] Emir Suljagić thanked U.S. lawmakers and said the Memorial Center will not be intimidated by Milorad Dodik or Željka Cvijanović. (Emir Suljagić)
[● 6 SOURCES] A bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers urged the Trump administration to reinstate sanctions on Republika Srpska officials. (US lawmakers)
[○ 1 SOURCE] Denis Zvizdić, Edin Magazinović and Denis Kojović have called for a special legal status for the Srebrenica Memorial Center. (Bosnian politicians)
[● 14 SOURCES] Twenty‑six employees and former employees of the Srebrenica Memorial Center were questioned by police, with seven already interrogated. (Bosnian police)
[● 3 SOURCES] Emir Suljagić thanked U.S. lawmakers and said the Memorial Center will not be intimidated.
[● 11 SOURCES] U.S. lawmakers urged the Trump administration to reinstate sanctions on Republika Srpska officials. (U.S. senators and representatives including Jeanne Shaheen, Roger Wicker, Chuck Grassley, Dick Durbin, Bill Keating and)