Obrad Kesić, longtime head of the Republika Srpska Representative Office in Washington, said that a contract worth nearly BAM 75 million for the implementation of new election technologies, signed in May by the Central Election Commission of BiH and U.S. company Smartmatic, is under scrutiny by U.S. investigators and that several individuals are reportedly covered by the investigation.
“This includes Christian Schmidt because he imposed all the decisions that led to that contract, as well as individual members of the Central Election Commission because they participated in the process. Although the investigation is still at an early stage, according to the information we are receiving, there is enough evidence for it to continue and to be expanded to others who were working at the U.S. Embassy at the time,” Kesić said.
Kesić said Washington has grounds to investigate Schmidt, claiming there are indications that he and former U.S. Ambassador to BiH Michael Murphy misused American funds, not only in activities related to President Milorad Dodik but also in actions directed against U.S. President Donald Trump.
Commenting on an initiative by U.S. Congresswoman Celeste Maloy to examine the involvement of Schmidt and the Central Election Commission in democratic processes in Republika Srpska, Kesić said the initiative represents only the first step and that Maloy is not the only person to have raised the issue.
“It now needs to go to OFAC, which will probably seek the opinion of the Department of Justice and security agencies, including the CIA, before reaching a decision and formally opening a case,” Kesić said.
He claimed there are indications that laws may have been violated and funds misused, alleging that the activities were carried out in direct cooperation with Murphy.
Kesić also said that U.S. investigators had previously traveled to Banja Luka in connection with other matters and interviewed witnesses.
According to Kesić, the broader issue concerns the alleged use of U.S. funds to support what he described as a “globalist ideology,” which he claimed was also used in efforts against Trump.
Source: RTRS
