As President Trump campaigned across the United States to bolster Republican prospects ahead of the November midterm elections, two of his senior political advisers were simultaneously involved in supporting a pro-Russian government in the Balkans. James Blair and Chris LaCivita, key figures in Trump’s midterm advertising operation, traveled in recent days to Republika Srpska, a semi-autonomous entity within Bosnia and Herzegovina, ahead of its parliamentary elections held last Sunday.

According to multiple sources familiar with their activities, Blair and LaCivita were engaged by Republika Srpska’s government through a Washington-based law firm to advise on voting matters. They reportedly received substantial payments for their work, amounting to hundreds of thousands of dollars each. The sources distinguished that their services were formally provided to the government rather than the nationalist party that effectively controls Republika Srpska; however, in practice, the two are closely intertwined.

The nationalist party has cultivated strong ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin while actively courting support from Trump and his allies, promoting a platform emphasizing Christian conservatism and opposition to European Union integration. In the lead-up to the elections, the party raised concerns about the use of new voting machines, echoing claims by Trump and his supporters regarding election fraud in the 2020 U.S. presidential race. Despite reported technical problems on election day, the party secured a decisive victory.

Milorad Dodik, the party leader and former president of Republika Srpska, credited Putin’s backing and expressed optimism that a Trump victory in the 2024 U.S. presidential election would create favorable political conditions. Dodik’s government did not respond to inquiries about their engagement of Blair and LaCivita or related payments.

Trump distanced himself from the advisers’ Balkan work, stating on social media that Blair and LaCivita are "outside consultants" for his campaign and that he was unaware of their other clients. He added that any conflicts would result in termination of their services. A spokesman for MAGA Inc., the Trump-aligned super PAC run by Blair, declined to comment on the advisers’ overseas activities but confirmed they continued participating in midterm campaign efforts remotely.

Blair served as the Trump 2024 campaign’s political director before assuming leadership of MAGA Inc., while LaCivita is a senior adviser and campaign co-manager. The timing of their trip, overlapping with a critical stage in the U.S. midterms, underscores the ongoing practice of American political operatives providing paid services to foreign governments.

Blair and LaCivita are part of a broader network of lobbyists and consultants linked to Trump and Republican circles who have received over $4 million from Republika Srpska since early 2022. This influence campaign contributed to the lifting of U.S. sanctions on Dodik and his associates last year, sanctions initially imposed during the Obama administration and maintained through the Trump and Biden years. These penalties were in response to Dodik’s attempts to undermine the Dayton Accords, the 1995 peace agreement that ended the Bosnian War and established Republika Srpska as one of the two principal political entities within Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Dodik, a dominant political figure and former moderate, has become increasingly aligned with Serbian nationalism and Russian interests. His supporters have drawn parallels between Dodik and Trump, portraying him as a victim of political persecution and a savvy dealmaker with Washington. Last year, Dodik was convicted by a Bosnian court for defying the international body overseeing the Dayton agreement, resulting in his removal from the presidency and a temporary ban from office.

Analysts suggest that support from Trump allies and the removal of sanctions have bolstered Dodik’s domestic standing and political resilience. Adnan Cerimagic of the European Stability Initiative noted that this backing has enhanced Dodik’s legitimacy among voters and strengthened his position against critics both inside and outside Bosnia.

Connections between Trump’s circle and Republika Srpska extend beyond Blair and LaCivita. Donald Trump Jr. visited the region in April, hosted by Dodik’s son, signaling ongoing affiliation. Additionally, Zeljka Cvijanovic, a member of Dodik’s party whose election to the national presidency was confirmed last week, met with Trump’s chief of staff, Susie Wiles, in Washington. That meeting was arranged by lobbyist Alex Garcia, who is registered to represent Republika Srpska and was also in the region during the election period.

Former Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich, whose family is of Serbian descent and who has been paid by Republika Srpska for lobbying, described pro-Trump sentiment as politically advantageous in the region. “They love Trump in Serbia and Srpska,” Blagojevich said. “Being pro-Trump in the Republic of Srpska is a huge political plus.”