Canadian Firm Lobbied for Republika Srpska Independence, Records Reveal

Official records from the United States Department of Justice show that the government of Republika Srpska hired Canadian lobbying firm Dickens & Madson. The firm worked to promote the independence of the entity from Bosnia and Herzegovina. The contract also focused on gaining political support from key international actors, including the United States, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Israel.

According to Foreign Agents Registration Act filings, Dickens & Madson claimed that the governments of Israel and Saudi Arabia advocated on behalf of Republika Srpska to the United States government. The firm held meetings with officials in these countries to strengthen the political standing of Republika Srpska and its leadership. Dickens & Madson stated it did not take part in direct talks between foreign governments and Washington.

The contract was signed in September 2025 by Mladen Filipović, head of the entity's representative office in Vienna, and Ari Ben-Menashe, director of the Canadian firm. The agreement aimed to secure foreign backing for Republika Srpska and Milorad Dodik. The lobbying goals included lifting United States sanctions against Dodik and his associates, removing High Representative Christian Schmidt, and canceling scheduled elections.

Republika Srpska paid four million dollars for these services. Following legal complaints, the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina barred any budget payments tied to the contract. The court also banned public funding for lobbying activities that violate the state constitution. Earlier investigations revealed that Republika Srpska spent millions of dollars on American lobbying efforts over recent years, drastically outpacing state-level spending.