The leader of the Bosnian-Herzegovinian entity Republika Srpska, Milorad Dodik, declared this evening in Banja Luka that no one will bring him to the Prosecutor’s Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) in Sarajevo, asserting that the police of the entity will ensure his protection.

“Arrest me? Absolutely not. Moreover, the police are present to maintain peace and order in Republika Srpska, and they will fulfill that role. Their responsibility includes guaranteeing my safety as president and that of our institutions. Naturally, they won’t permit any such attempts,” Dodik stated during an interview with a reporter from Croatian RTL.

When questioned about whether he would willingly attend a hearing at the state prosecutor’s office in Sarajevo, Dodik responded that “there is no reason for a voluntary appearance concerning an institution that is not constitutional.”

“On top of that, it is taking actions based on the orders of a foreigner (High Representative in BiH Kristijan Šmit), who is exerting pressure, and they are fabricating criminal charges from that. Furthermore, it is exclusively Muslims launching these accusations against Republika Srpska,” Dodik remarked, adding that “it will become evident that they are unable to carry out their agenda.”

In response to a question about the potential for a confrontation between the Republika Srpska police and the BiH Investigation and Protection Agency (SIPA), which has received directives for his detention, he quipped, “As I enjoy such scenarios, they always culminate in an incident— a positive one. I don’t comprehend.”

When pressed further by the journalist on whether a conflict would arise if there was an attempt to arrest him, he asserted that “they certainly would.”

Upon further inquiry about possible incidents if someone sought to apprehend him, or if the Republika Srpska police would respond, Dodik initially indicated that “there will be no conflict” and insisted that “there is no cause for concern,” only to later state that “an incident is not a possibility” while affirming that “the police will take action.”

When asked why he had not willingly answered the summons of the Prosecutor’s Office of BiH, which accuses him of undermining the constitutional order, Dodik replied: “Who am I supposed to respond to, and what should I say?”

“I clearly explained that neither that court nor the prosecutor’s office is recognized by the Constitution of BiH,” Dodik concluded the interview.

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