Estonia has imposed an entry ban on the ousted President of Republika Srpska Milorad Dodik and the pro-Russian politician from Moldova Irina Vlah, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reports, BTA reports.
A statement from the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday stated that Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna had imposed sanctions against the two individuals “who undermine the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states and incite separatism“.
“The new sanction allows for the application of an entry ban on individuals for whom there is evidence of participation in or active support for activities abroad that violate the norms and principles of international law“, Tsahkna said.
With this move, Estonia joins Germany, Austria and Slovenia, which have already imposed an entry ban on Dodik this year due to his separatist actions.
Dodik is under sanctions by both the United States and the United Kingdom for anti-Dayton activities. He was stripped of his mandate as president of Republika Srpska after the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina upheld his conviction for disobeying the decisions of the High Representative Christian Schmitt. Dodik was sentenced to one year in prison, replaced by a fine, and banned from holding public office for six years. Early presidential elections in Republika Srpska are scheduled for 23 November.
The sanctions against Irina Vlah, a former governor of the autonomous region of Gagauzia in Moldova, come the week of parliamentary elections in the country, which will decide whether Moldova will move closer to the European Union or Russia.