Latest news with #Serbs'
Time of India
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Bosnia's wanted Serb leader Dodik arrives in Moscow
Bosnian Serb President Milorad Dodik (Photo: AP) BELGRADE: Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik arrived Thursday in Moscow to attend Victory Day celebrations , despite an arrest warrant against him over accusations he flouted the divided Balkan nation's constitution. "Moscow is a beautiful city," Dodik, a Kremlin ally and leader of Bosnia 's Serb statelet, wrote on X, while Russian media published footage of him at the airport. Dodik, 66, is wanted by Bosnia's central judiciary after a series of secessionist moves, but continues to defy an arrest warrant issued in mid-March. Since the end of its ethnic war in the 1990s, Bosnia remains split into two highly autonomous halves -- the Serbs' Republika Srpska (RS) and a Muslim-Croat Federation -- linked by a weak central government. It was previously announced that the RS delegation in Moscow would also include the Serb member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Zeljka Cvijanovic, and the Speaker of the RS Assembly, Nenad Stevandic -- who is also wanted on suspicion of "attacking the constitutional order" in Bosnia. Dodik previously visited Moscow at the end of March. The RS president, who has led the Serb statelet since 2006, was sentenced in February to one year in prison and banned from holding political office for six years for failing to comply with decisions of the international high representative who oversees the peace accord in Bosnia. He rejected the trial as "political" and responded by banning the federal police and judiciary from operating in the Serb statelet. Federal prosecutors deemed his actions secessionist and opened an investigation, but he has not been arrested because of the risk of destabilising the fragile Balkan nation. Leaders from around 25 countries, including Chinese President Xi Jinping, are expected to attend the military parade in Moscow on Friday. Serbia's President Aleksandar Vucic also arrived in Moscow, where he will meet Vladimir Putin despite warnings from the European Union that it would look unfavourably on countries engaging with Russia after its invasion of Ukraine.
Korea Herald
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Korea Herald
Bosnia says Interpol refused 'red notice' appeal for wanted leader Dodik
Interpol has confirmed its refusal to issue a notice to detain Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik, who is wanted by Bosnia's federal authorities on secession charges, a court said on Wednesday. The Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina said Interpol "has not accepted a request to revise its decision about the issue of an arrest warrant" against Dodik, president of the Bosnian Serb statelet of Republika Srpska, and RS parliament speaker Nenad Stevandic. Interpol declined a request to comment. Since the end of its bloody inter-ethnic war in 1995, Bosnia has been split between two autonomous halves -- the Serbs' Republika Srpska and a Muslim-Croat Federation. Each has its own government and parliament, with only weak central institutions binding the country of 3.5 million people together. Dodik, 66, and Stevandic, 58, as well as RS prime minister Radovan Viskovic, 61, are wanted for questioning on suspicion of "attacking the constitutional order" in Bosnia. Interpol earlier this month rejected a Bosnian request to issue a "red notice," which asks law enforcement bodies worldwide to provisionally detain a wanted person pending extradition. Dodik, who has led the RS since 2006, was sentenced to one year in prison and banned from holding political office for six in February for failing to comply with decisions of the international high representative who oversees the peace accord in Bosnia. He rejected the trial as "political" and responded by banning the federal police and judiciary from operating in the Serb statelet. Federal prosecutors deemed his actions secessionist and opened an investigation, but the three men have not been arrested because of the risk of destabilising the fragile Balkan nation. Dodik and Stevandic both travelled abroad after an arrest warrant was issued on March 18, prompting the Bosnian courts to contact Interpol. The RS leader has been in Serbia, Israel and Russia in recent weeks, and is expected to be in Moscow again on May 9 for a parade marking the 80th anniversary of victory over Nazi Germany in World War II. Bosnia's federal police attempted to question him last week when he was in east Sarajevo, which is part of the Serb statelet, but were blocked by Bosnian Serb Interior Ministry forces.
The Sun
24-04-2025
- Politics
- The Sun
Bosnian Serb leader due back in East Sarajevo after arrest attempt
SARAJEVO: Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik, who is wanted on secession charges, is expected again in East Sarajevo on Thursday, hours after federal police attempted to arrest him but turned back for fear of a conflict. Dodik, the president of the Bosnian Serb statelet, is wanted by Bosnia's central judiciary after a series of secessionist moves, but continues to defy an arrest warrant issued in mid-March. Since the end of its bloody inter-ethnic war in the 1990s, Bosnia remains split into two highly autonomous halves -- the Serbs' Republika Srpska (RS) and a Muslim-Croat Federation, linked by a weak central government. On Wednesday, federal police officers tried to enter an official building in East Sarajevo, a Serb-controlled town near the Bosnian capital, to arrest Dodik but were blocked by Bosnian Serb interior ministry forces. 'Our colleagues from the RS ministry simply weren't cooperative, or rather, they believed that it shouldn't be carried out, that it could perhaps lead to some conflict,' said Jelena Miovcic, spokeswoman for the federal police force (SIPA). 'We simply assessed that proceeding might cause bigger problems... In the end, we didn't go in armed... It was meant to be handled in a civilised way, to explain things clearly -- that we are legally obliged to enforce the court order from Bosnia and Herzegovina,' she told AFP. Dodik accused the federal police at an improvised press conference Wednesday night of 'violating RS laws', referring to RS parliament legislation banning the federal police and judiciary from the statelet. Dodik, 66, has repeatedly refused to follow rulings from the international high representative who oversees the Bosnian peace deal. The court of Bosnia and Herzegovina convicted him in February, sentencing him to one year in prison and banning him from holding public office for six years. Dodik rejected the ruling and, in response, barred the federal police and judiciary from operating in Republika Srpska.
The Sun
24-04-2025
- Politics
- The Sun
Dodik defies arrest in RS, federal police forced to back off
SARAJEVO: Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik, who is wanted on secession charges, is expected again in East Sarajevo on Thursday, hours after federal police attempted to arrest him but turned back for fear of a conflict. Dodik, the president of the Bosnian Serb statelet, is wanted by Bosnia's central judiciary after a series of secessionist moves, but continues to defy an arrest warrant issued in mid-March. Since the end of its bloody inter-ethnic war in the 1990s, Bosnia remains split into two highly autonomous halves -- the Serbs' Republika Srpska (RS) and a Muslim-Croat Federation, linked by a weak central government. On Wednesday, federal police officers tried to enter an official building in East Sarajevo, a Serb-controlled town near the Bosnian capital, to arrest Dodik but were blocked by Bosnian Serb interior ministry forces. 'Our colleagues from the RS ministry simply weren't cooperative, or rather, they believed that it shouldn't be carried out, that it could perhaps lead to some conflict,' said Jelena Miovcic, spokeswoman for the federal police force (SIPA). 'We simply assessed that proceeding might cause bigger problems... In the end, we didn't go in armed... It was meant to be handled in a civilised way, to explain things clearly -- that we are legally obliged to enforce the court order from Bosnia and Herzegovina,' she told AFP. Dodik accused the federal police at an improvised press conference Wednesday night of 'violating RS laws', referring to RS parliament legislation banning the federal police and judiciary from the statelet. Dodik, 66, has repeatedly refused to follow rulings from the international high representative who oversees the Bosnian peace deal. The court of Bosnia and Herzegovina convicted him in February, sentencing him to one year in prison and banning him from holding public office for six years. Dodik rejected the ruling and, in response, barred the federal police and judiciary from operating in Republika Srpska.
Time of India
24-04-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Bosnian Serb leader back in Sarajevo after arrest attempt
Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik (Image: AP) SARAJEVO: Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik, who is wanted on secession charges, returned to the Serb portion of the capital on Thursday, hours after federal police tried to arrest him but backed down for fear of a conflict. Dodik, the president of the Bosnian Serb statelet, is wanted by Bosnia's central judiciary after a series of secessionist moves but continues to defy an arrest warrant issued in mid-March. Since the end of its ethnic war in the 1990s, Bosnia remains split into two highly autonomous halves -- the Serbs' Republika Srpska (RS) and a Muslim-Croat Federation -- linked by a weak central government. On Wednesday, federal police officers tried to enter an official building in East Sarajevo , a Serb-controlled area on the east of the Bosnian capital, to arrest Dodik but were blocked by Bosnian Serb interior ministry forces. "Our colleagues from the RS ministry simply weren't cooperative or, rather, they believed that it shouldn't be carried out, that it could perhaps lead to some conflict," said Jelena Miovcic, spokeswoman for the federal police force (SIPA). "We simply assessed that proceeding might cause bigger problems... In the end, we didn't go in armed... It was meant to be handled in a civilised way, to explain things clearly -- that we are legally obliged to enforce the court order from Bosnia and Herzegovina ," she told AFP. Dodik accused the federal police at an improvised press conference on Wednesday night of "violating RS laws", referring to RS parliament legislation banning the federal police and judiciary from the statelet. He reappeared in East Sarajevo on Thursday, attending the inauguration of a university building amid a heavier than usual police presence. Dodik, 66, has repeatedly refused to follow rulings from the international high representative who oversees the Bosnian peace deal, Christian Schmidt . Schmidt on Thursday announced the immediate suspension of all government aid to Dodik's party. The court of Bosnia and Herzegovina convicted Dodik in February, sentencing him to one year in prison and banning him from holding public office for six years. Dodik rejected the ruling and, in response, barred the federal police and judiciary from operating in Republika Srpska.
