Latest news with #Muslim-Croat
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Bosnia issues international arrest warrant for Serb leader Dodik
Bosnia issued an international arrest warrant Thursday for Milorad Dodik, the leader of the deeply divided country's Serb statelet who is accused of flouting the constitution. Dodik, who for years has led a campaign chipping away at the Balkan country's weak central institutions, denounced the warrant as an "abuse of the justice system for political ends" while on a visit to Israel. A similar arrest warrant was issued for the speaker of the Serb entity Republika Srpska's (RS) assembly, Nenad Stevandic, who returned to Bosnia and Herzegovina on March 18 after a visit to Serbia. Since the end of the 1992-1995 war, Bosnia has been split into two semi-autonomous halves -- the Republika Srpska and a Muslim-Croat federation. Both have their own governments and parliaments and share weak central institutions. The prosecutor's office said warrants were issued for Dodik and Stevandic for "using their high-ranking positions in the Republika Srpska entity" to go abroad "while evading legally prescribed border control procedures". After travelling to Israel on Tuesday to attend an international conference on combating anti-Semitism attended by European far-right figures, Dodik said he was "relaxed" about the warrant. "Nothing surprising. The abuse of the justice system for political ends continues," he said from Jerusalem on Wednesday, alleging that the purpose of the warrant was "to isolate me". Without giving details on his coming schedule, Dodik hinted that he had "some very important activities" planned in the coming days. The RS leader, who is an ally of the Kremlin, had postponed a trip to Moscow last week. "We will do all that and return to the RS in a calm manner next week," Dodik said. - 'Grounds for action' - Dodik has threatened to secede the Serb entity from Bosnia and barred central police and judicial officials from working there -- an order that was suspended by the constitutional court. Dodik, Stevandic and RS Prime Minister Radovan Viskovic are accused of attacking the constitutional order, and an arrest warrant was issued within Bosnia and Herzegovina. Dodik and Stevandic then defied this by travelling abroad. "All of this suggests that both individuals could be abroad at any given moment, which provides grounds for action," the State Court said in a statement, adding that it had issued an international arrest order and the matter was now in Interpol's hands. Stevandic was seen in the Serbian capital Belgrade on March 15. Tensions have soared in Bosnia since Dodik was sentenced last month to a year in prison and handed a six-year ban from public office for defying Christian Schmidt, the international envoy charged with overseeing the peace deal that ended Bosnia's inter-ethnic war in the 1990s. Bosnia's divided politics and fragile post-war institutions have faced increasing uncertainty amid the unfolding political crisis. rus-oz/sbk/js
Arab News
19-03-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Bosnia issues arrest warrant for ethnic Serb leader
SARAJEVO: Bosnian authorities have issued an arrest warrant for ethnic Serb leader Milorad Dodik, a senior police officer said Wednesday, as part of an investigation into his alleged flouting of the country's constitution. The announcement comes a week after police said they were seeking to question Dodik, who remained defiant and called on federal police to ignore the order. But according to the head of police in Bosnia's Muslim-Croat statelet, an arrest warrant has now been issued by authorities. It also includes orders to detain Republika Srpska Prime Minister Radovan Viskovic and Parliamentary Speaker Nenad Stevandic. 'We received an arrest warrant for these three individuals,' said Vahidin Munjic during an interview with local media. 'All police organs in Bosnia and Herzegovina, if they spot these individuals, are obligated to arrest them and hand them over to the state court.' Tensions have soared in the divided Balkan country since Dodik was convicted last month for defying Christian Schmidt, the international envoy charged with overseeing the peace accords that ended Bosnia's 1990s war. Dodik, who is the president of Bosnia's Republika Srpska (RS) statelet, remains unrepentant. He helped push through laws forbidding the federal police and judiciary from entering Bosnia's Serb entity in retaliation. The laws were later struck down by the constitutional court. Since the end of Bosnia's inter-ethnic war in the 1990s, the country has consisted of two autonomous halves — the Serb-dominated RS and a Muslim-Croat region. The two entities have their own governments and parliaments and are linked by weak central institutions. During a meeting in the RS capital on Wednesday, Dodik appeared to pay little attention to the latest news concerning the warrant. 'We will continue to implement the policies adopted by the parliament,' he said, referring to the RS's legislator. Bosnia's divided politics and fragile, post-war institutions have faced increasing uncertainty due to the unfolding political crisis. On Tuesday, the head of Bosnia's federal police force Darko Culum — an ally of Dodik — announced that he was resigning from the post and would return to work for the interior ministry in the RS. Days earlier, Dodik had called on ethnic Serbs working for Bosnia's national institutions to quit and take up jobs in the RS. Serbia's President Aleksandar Vucic — a major backer of Dodik — also said he planned to raise the issue of the arrest warrant during a visit to Brussels this week. 'We could end up in a total disaster overnight. That's why we must do everything to preserve peace and stability,' Vucic said during an interview with a Serbian broadcaster. For years, Dodik has pursued a separatist agenda, repeatedly threatening to pull the Serb statelet out of Bosnia's central institutions — including its army, judiciary and tax system — which has led to sanctions from the United States. The RS leader had already pushed through two earlier laws that refused to recognize decisions made by Schmidt and Bosnia's constitutional court. That led to his conviction last month, when he was sentenced to a year in prison and handed a six-year ban from office.
Khaleej Times
12-03-2025
- Politics
- Khaleej Times
Bosnia police ordered to bring in Serb leader Milorad Dodik
Bosnia's prosecutors on Wednesday ordered federal police to bring in ethnic Serb leader Milorad Dodik for questioning as part of an investigation into his alleged flouting of the country's constitution. Tensions have soared in the divided Balkan country since Dodik was convicted last month for defying Christian Schmidt, the international envoy charged with overseeing the peace accords that ended Bosnia's 1990s war. Dodik, who leads Bosnia's Republika Srpska (RS) statelet, has remained unrepentant after the conviction and helped push through laws forbidding federal police and judiciary from entering Bosnia's Serb entity. The laws were later struck down by the constitutional court. Last week, he ignored a summons from Bosnia's chief prosecutor for allegedly trying to undermine the constitution. And last month he further ratcheted up tensions by calling on ethnic Serbs to quit the federal police force and courts and join the RS government instead. Federal police "received a request for assistance" to execute the orders of the prosecutor's office to bring in Dodik for questioning, Jelena Miovcic, a spokesperson for the police force, told AFP on Wednesday. The request also called for other top leaders from the RS to be brought in for questioning as well. Since the end of Bosnia's inter-ethnic war in the 1990s, the country has consisted of two autonomous halves -- the Serb-dominated RS and a Muslim-Croat region. - EU troops brought in - The two entities have their own governments and parliaments and are linked by weak central institutions. Bosnia's divided politics and fragile, post-war institutions have faced increasing uncertainty amid the unfolding crisis. The latest move from prosecutors comes as EU military reinforcements began arriving in Bosnia on Tuesday. Last Friday, the European Union Force (EUFOR) announced a "temporary increase" in the number of troops in Bosnia as a "proactive measure". Earlier this week, NATO chief Mark Rutte also flew to Sarajevo seeking to bolster support for the country's embattled government, saying the alliance will not allow a "security vacuum to emerge". For years, Dodik has pursued a separatist agenda, while repeatedly threatening to pull the Serb statelet out of Bosnia's central institutions -- including its army, judiciary and tax system, which has led to sanctions from the United States. The RS leader had already pushed through two earlier laws that refused to recognise decisions made by the Schmidt and Bosnia's constitutional court. That led to his conviction last month. He was sentenced to a year in prison and six-year ban from office.
Yahoo
08-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Bosnia top envoy backs court ruling against separatist laws
Bosnia's international high representative Christian Schmidt on Saturday threw his support behind a court ruling striking down separatist laws passed by the country's Serb statelet. Bosnia's Constitutional Court on Friday suspended legislation signed by Serb leader Milorad Dodik that rejected the authority of the federal police and judiciary within the Republika Srpska (RS). Since the end of Bosnia's inter-ethnic war in the 1990s, the country has consisted of two autonomous halves -- the Serb-dominated RS and a Muslim-Croat statelet. Each has its own government and parliament, linked by weak central institutions. At a meeting between Schmidt and Denis Becirovic -- the Bosnian Muslim member of the joint presidency -- the two backed the court's ruling, said a statement published by his office on X. It was "a crucial step toward clarifying the situation and ensuring legal certainty", the statement added. "Domestic institutions have both the means and the firm support of the international community to resolve this unacceptable breach of the Dayton Agreement," Schmidt said in the statement. "My thanks and recognition go to the state institutions upholding the rule of law and the security of all citizens." - International condemnation - Bosnia's divided politics and fragile, post-war institutions have faced increasing uncertainty in the week since Dodik was convicted for defying Schmidt, who as High Representative oversees Bosnia's peace accords. Both the European Union and the US embassy in Sarajevo have condemned the legislation, which Dodik backed following his conviction. Bosnia's Foreign Minister Elmedin Konakovic denounced it as a "textbook coup d'etat." US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also warned that Dodik's actions threatened Bosnia's security and stability, and called on regional partners to join in "pushing back against this dangerous and destabilizing behavior". The EU delegation in Bosnia emphasised that all decisions made by the Constitutional Court, including the provisional measures, had to be respected by all parties involved. In response to the growing tensions, the European Union Force said Friday it would "temporarily increase" the size of its peacekeeping mission in the country. NATO chief Mark Rutte was also due to visit the capital Sarajevo on Monday. Dodik's actions come in the context of ongoing tensions with Schmidt, who holds broad powers to intervene in Bosnia's governance. Dodik had already pushed through two laws that refused to recognise decisions made by the High Representative and Bosnia's Constitutional Court. That led to his conviction last week and his being sentenced to a year in prison and six-year ban from office. His refusal to comply with these decisions has led to international sanctions and further strained Bosnia's fragile political structure. mp/ds/jj
Yahoo
08-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Bosnia top envoy backs court ruling against separatist laws
Bosnia's international high representative Christian Schmidt on Saturday threw his support behind a court ruling striking down separatist laws passed by the country's Serb statelet. Bosnia's Constitutional Court on Friday suspended legislation signed by Serb leader Milorad Dodik that rejected the authority of the federal police and judiciary within the Republika Srpska (RS). Since the end of Bosnia's inter-ethnic war in the 1990s, the country has consisted of two autonomous halves -- the Serb-dominated RS and a Muslim-Croat statelet. Each has its own government and parliament, linked by weak central institutions. At a meeting between Schmidt and Denis Becirovic -- the Bosnian Muslim member of the joint presidency -- the two backed the court's ruling, said a statement published by his office on X. It was "a crucial step toward clarifying the situation and ensuring legal certainty", the statement added. "Domestic institutions have both the means and the firm support of the international community to resolve this unacceptable breach of the Dayton Agreement," Schmidt said in the statement. "My thanks and recognition go to the state institutions upholding the rule of law and the security of all citizens." - International condemnation - Bosnia's divided politics and fragile, post-war institutions have faced increasing uncertainty in the week since Dodik was convicted for defying Schmidt, who as High Representative oversees Bosnia's peace accords. Both the European Union and the US embassy in Sarajevo have condemned the legislation, which Dodik backed following his conviction. Bosnia's Foreign Minister Elmedin Konakovic denounced it as a "textbook coup d'etat." US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also warned that Dodik's actions threatened Bosnia's security and stability, and called on regional partners to join in "pushing back against this dangerous and destabilizing behavior". The EU delegation in Bosnia emphasised that all decisions made by the Constitutional Court, including the provisional measures, had to be respected by all parties involved. In response to the growing tensions, the European Union Force said Friday it would "temporarily increase" the size of its peacekeeping mission in the country. NATO chief Mark Rutte was also due to visit the capital Sarajevo on Monday. Dodik's actions come in the context of ongoing tensions with Schmidt, who holds broad powers to intervene in Bosnia's governance. Dodik had already pushed through two laws that refused to recognise decisions made by the High Representative and Bosnia's Constitutional Court. That led to his conviction last week and his being sentenced to a year in prison and six-year ban from office. His refusal to comply with these decisions has led to international sanctions and further strained Bosnia's fragile political structure. mp/ds/jj
