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Euronews
3 days ago
- Politics
- Euronews
Bosnian Serb leader rejects verdict appeal amid political turmoil
Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik has not appealed his verdict and will not attend the state-level court session next Thursday — the latest development in a prolonged high-tension political crisis in the Western Balkan country that has since simmered down to a steady boil. The crisis reached its peak in late February, when the Sarajevo-based Court of BiH convicted Dodik of going against the decisions of the country's international peace envoy, Christian Schmidt, which constitutes a criminal act. The verdict is not final, and Dodik had the option to appeal it. In the meantime, however, the president of Bosnia's Serb-majority entity of the Republika Srpska (RS), Dodik introduced new laws meant to ban the operation of state-level security and judicial institutions in what comprises about half of the Western Balkan country's territory. The decisions have been temporarily suspended by the state-level Constitutional Court. "As far as I'm concerned, that verdict doesn't exist, and it is null and void," Dodik told Euronews Serbia. "I didn't even appeal because the RS parliament stated that the work of that court is banned in the territory of RS, as the court itself is unconstitutional," he argued. At the same time, Dodik firmly rejected allegations that his actions have alienated him from political actors from the other entity of the Federation of BiH and inched the country, which already went through a bloody war in the 1990s, closer to renewed conflict. "What I want is to establish communication and maintain peace," Dodik said. "A year ago, according to (leaders of the other entity), the main warmonger was Milorad Dodik. But nothing happened." "You won't find a single action of mine heading in that direction, nor will you find even one such statement," he said. Dodik also questioned the legitimacy of High Representative Schmidt, saying he acted against "imposed decisions" by the envoy whose mandate, Dodik claims, contradicts the Dayton Agreement, signed in 1995 to end the war in the country. The agreement brought about the end of the war between the country's three main ethnic groups — Bosniaks, Serbs and Croats — that began in 1992 during the dissolution of the former Yugoslavia, deemed as the bloodiest conflict on European soil since World War II. The High Representative is meant to act as the chief arbiter in high-profile disputes and the key figure overseeing the implementation of the deal. The peace agreement, parts of which act as the country's constitution, split the country into two main administrative units, or entities: the Serb-majority RS and the Bosniak-Croat FBiH, partially overseen by an umbrella state-level government. Meant to appease the former belligerents, it created a complicated system of checks and balances, said to be the world's most complex democracy. Dodik's ongoing challenge to the High Representative and state-level institutions' authority has been deemed to be the EU membership hopeful's biggest test of post-war stability. The Court of BiH issued a nationwide arrest warrant for Dodik in March, but he has not been apprehended since. In the meantime, he has travelled to neighbouring Serbia, Israel and Russia, where he attended the 9 May Victory Day celebrations in Moscow, organised by Russian President Vladimir Putin. Back home, tensions flared up once again in late April after state-level security agency inspectors tried to arrest Dodik, but were prevented from doing so. While the details around the incident remained unclear, the domestic media reported that SIPA agents left after 'talking' to the RS police. Dodik later said he felt 'fine and safe". The European peacekeeping force in Bosnia, EUFOR, has stepped up the number of its troops in response to the tensions. In March, NATO's Secretary General Mark Rutte pledged the military alliance's "unwavering" support for Bosnia's territorial integrity. "Three decades after the Dayton Peace Agreement, I can tell you: NATO remains firmly committed to the stability of this region and to the security of Bosnia and Herzegovina," Rutte said at the time. "We will not allow hard-won peace to be jeopardised."
Euronews
12-03-2025
- Politics
- Euronews
China slams US tariffs: 'There are no winners in a trade war'
By Euronews The Bosnian Serb leader enacted laws to ban state-level security and judicial bodies in one part of the country's territory, following his controversial sentencing last Wednesday. ADVERTISEMENT The president of Bosnia and Herzegovina's Serb-majority entity of the Republika Srpska (RS), Milorad Dodik, has introduced new laws meant to ban the operation of state-level security and judicial institutions in what comprises about half of the Western Balkan country's territory. The acts, which were previously adopted by the RS' National Assembly, came in response to the first-instance verdict by the state-level Court of BiH against Dodik issued last Wednesday, causing a major political crisis in the EU membership hopeful. The Sarajevo-based court sentenced the Bosnian Serb leader to one year in prison and barred him from politics for six years for going against the decisions of the international community's peace envoy, German diplomat Christian Schmidt, which constitutes a criminal act. The verdict is not final, and Dodik can appeal it. In Bosnia, the High Representative acts as the chief arbiter in high-profile disputes and the key figure overseeing the implementation of the Dayton Agreement, signed in 1995 to stop the war in the country. The agreement brought about the end of the war between the country's three main ethnic groups — Bosniaks, Serbs and Croats — that began in 1992 during the dissolution of the former Yugoslavia, deemed as the bloodiest conflict on European soil since World War II. The peace deal, parts of which act as the country's constitution, split the country into two main administrative units, or entities: the Serb-majority RS and the Bosniak-Croat Federation of BiH (FBiH), partially overseen by an umbrella state-level government. Meant to appease the former belligerents, it created a complicated system of checks and balances, said to be the world's most complex democracy. On Thursday, Dodik — who has rejected the verdict as instigated by Bosniaks, as well as High Representative Schmidt's legitimacy — asked the Bosnian citizens for calm, blaming Bosniak politicians for what he said was warmongering and 'revenge against the Serbs'. 'They believe that they should eliminate in the political sense every Serb who does not correspond to their political projections,' Dodik added. Neighbouring Serbia's President Aleksandar Vučić said he had insisted Dodik go to the capital for talks after the verdict, but there was no response 'apart from a barrage of insults'. 'I have always considered that any conversation is better, more beneficial and more important than any display of strength, power and force,' Vučić emphasised. Meanwhile, one of the members of the three-way Bosnian Presidency, Denis Bećirović, said that he has filed a request with the country's Constitutional Court over the constitutionality of the latest set of laws. Apart from Bećirović, the speakers of the state-level Parliamentary Assembly's two chambers, Denis Zvizdić and Kemal Ademović, stated they would do the same.
Euronews
06-03-2025
- Politics
- Euronews
Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik's new laws spark major political crisis
By Euronews The Bosnian Serb leader enacted laws to ban state-level security and judicial bodies in one part of the country's territory, following his controversial sentencing last Wednesday. ADVERTISEMENT The president of Bosnia and Herzegovina's Serb-majority entity of the Republika Srpska (RS), Milorad Dodik, has introduced new laws meant to ban the operation of state-level security and judicial institutions in what comprises about half of the Western Balkan country's territory. The acts, which were previously adopted by the RS' National Assembly, came in response to the first-instance verdict by the state-level Court of BiH against Dodik issued last Wednesday, causing a major political crisis in the EU membership hopeful. The Sarajevo-based court sentenced the Bosnian Serb leader to one year in prison and barred him from politics for six years for going against the decisions of the international community's peace envoy, German diplomat Christian Schmidt, which constitutes a criminal act. The verdict is not final, and Dodik can appeal it. In Bosnia, the High Representative acts as the chief arbiter in high-profile disputes and the key figure overseeing the implementation of the Dayton Agreement, signed in 1995 to stop the war in the country. The agreement brought about the end of the war between the country's three main ethnic groups — Bosniaks, Serbs and Croats — that began in 1992 during the dissolution of the former Yugoslavia, deemed as the bloodiest conflict on European soil since World War II. The peace deal, parts of which act as the country's constitution, split the country into two main administrative units, or entities: the Serb-majority RS and the Bosniak-Croat Federation of BiH (FBiH), partially overseen by an umbrella state-level government. Meant to appease the former belligerents, it created a complicated system of checks and balances, said to be the world's most complex democracy. On Thursday, Dodik — who has rejected the verdict as instigated by Bosniaks, as well as High Representative Schmidt's legitimacy — asked the Bosnian citizens for calm, blaming Bosniak politicians for what he said was warmongering and 'revenge against the Serbs'. 'They believe that they should eliminate in the political sense every Serb who does not correspond to their political projections,' Dodik added. Neighbouring Serbia's President Aleksandar Vučić said he had insisted Dodik go to the capital for talks after the verdict, but there was no response 'apart from a barrage of insults'. 'I have always considered that any conversation is better, more beneficial and more important than any display of strength, power and force,' Vučić emphasised. Meanwhile, one of the members of the three-way Bosnian Presidency, Denis Bećirović, said that he has filed a request with the country's Constitutional Court over the constitutionality of the latest set of laws. Apart from Bećirović, the speakers of the state-level Parliamentary Assembly's two chambers, Denis Zvizdić and Kemal Ademović, stated they would do the same.
Euronews
26-02-2025
- Politics
- Euronews
Top court ruling may bar Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik from politics
Bosnia's state-level court reached a first-degree verdict Wednesday against Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik, sentencing him to one year in prison and barring him from politics for six years in a high-profile case that has sparked renewed tensions in the Western Balkan country and EU membership hopeful. The Sarajevo-based Court of BiH judges found Dodik, who serves as the president of the Serb-majority entity of the Republika Srpska (RS), guilty of criminal conduct over his defiance of the decisions of the international peace envoy in the country, German diplomat Christian Schmidt. In 2023, Dodik pushed through two laws adopted by the RS National Assembly — the entity's parliament — related to preventing the implementation of state-level Constitutional Court rulings and further amends to the entity's legislation. Both of the laws were immediately blocked by Schmidt, who serves as the international community's High Representative in Bosnia. In Bosnia, the High Representative acts as the chief arbiter in high-profile disputes and the key figure overseeing the implementation of the Dayton Agreement, signed in 1995 to stop the war in the country. The agreement brought about the end of the war between the country's three main ethnic groups — Bosniaks, Serbs and Croats — that began in 1992 during the dissolution of the former Yugoslavia, deemed as the bloodiest conflict on European soil since World War II. The peace deal, which also acts as the country's constitution, split the country into two main administrative units, or entities: the Serb-majority RS, comprising about half of Bosnia, and the Bosniak-Croat Federation of BiH (FBiH), partially overseen by an umbrella state-level government. Meant to appease the former belligerents, it created a complicated system of checks and balances, deemed as the world's most complex democracy. 'Give him the boot' In immediate response to the sentencing, Dodik said to a crowd gathered in his support in the regional capital of Banja Luka that the National Assembly will issue a slew of decisions prohibiting the work of the state-level court, prosecutor's office and security and intelligence agencies on the entity's territory. Prior to the verdict, he also said he would ask for other Serb officials in state-level institutions to boycott them, a move which could paralyse the decision-making processes in the country. In Banja Luka, Dodik once again slammed the High Representative — whose legitimacy he keeps questioning. "When you see Schmidt, tell the police so we can arrest him and give him the boot here," Dodik said on Wednesday. "He committed the (first act of) violence, and I have the right to defend myself," he added. "I need the people's support, and I'll pursue this to the end," Dodik stated. He has the right to appeal Wednesday's verdict. In neighbouring Serbia, President Aleksandar Vučić reacted to the sentencing by calling a national security council meeting and announcing he would travel to Banja Luka on Wednesday evening. Dodik, who has been calling for the separation of the Serb entity from the rest of Bosnia for over a decade, has faced British and US sanctions for his policies but has had Russia's support. Prior to the sentencing, the state-level Prosecutor Nedim Ćosić requested that the court convict Dodik to serve up to five years in prison and ban him from political activity for 10 years. His defence asked for all charges to be dropped.
