Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić announced that Serbia will oppose the detainment of officials from the Bosnian entity, Republika Srpska.

“Serbia will never endorse the arrest of Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik, RS Prime Minister Radovan Višković, and the Speaker of the Republika Srpska Parliament, Nenad Stevandić. This stance is particularly true when it concerns political disagreements with the authorities in Sarajevo and the international community. We will continue to stand firmly with our people,” Vučić expressed on Instagram.

Today, the Prosecutor’s Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina confirmed to Radio Free Europe (RSE) that an arrest warrant has been issued for Dodik, Višković, and Stevandić.

The warrant alleges that they are suspects of criminal acts related to assaulting the constitutional order, which, under BiH’s Criminal Code, could result in a five-year prison sentence along with a potential ban on holding public office.

In a statement to reporters in Banja Luka, Dodik claimed that there has been a “harassment against RS” originating from Sarajevo, following the issuance of an order for his detention to provide testimony to the Prosecutor’s Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Dodik reiterated his previous assertions, stating he would not comply with the BiH Prosecutor’s Office’s request for questioning, labeling the Court and Prosecutor’s Office’s actions as an “inquisition”.

“We will not comply; if they intend to bring us in, let’s see how that unfolds. If they believe the solution is to see Dodik in handcuffs, that is their prerogative. However, that does not grant them the authority to execute this. I will carry out my responsibilities and will not abandon RS,” Dodik declared at a press conference where Višković and Stevandić also spoke.

The Prosecutor’s Office of BiH has been conducting investigations since December of the previous year based on reasonable suspicion of a violation of the constitutional order. They have not disclosed specific details of the ongoing investigation.

The court police, along with assistance requested from the State Investigation and Protection Agency (SIPA), have received the detention order for Dodik, Višković, and Stevandić.

“I would not advise SIPA to act on this – I believe they won’t. I have faith in the RS police,” Dodik remarked, announcing his intention to file criminal charges for “various demolitions,” though he did not elaborate on the specifics.

Last week, Dodik revealed on social media that the BiH Prosecutor’s Office had summoned him to appear on March 7 to provide a statement as a suspect in undermining the constitutional order. He reiterated that he would not heed the summons.

In a recent media appearance, Dodik stated he had received another summons to testify on March 10 but claimed he had not received an official invitation from BiH’s Prosecutor’s Office.

The Criminal Procedure Code of BiH allows for the issuance of a forcible compliance order for testifying if an individual declines to appear before the judicial body. Should that recourse prove unfeasible, an arrest warrant is the subsequent step.

Both Stevandić and Višković, like Dodik, have also stated their refusal to respond to the BiH Prosecutor’s summoning for inquiry.

The detention order for Dodik, Stevandić, and Višković, aimed at obtaining testimonies for the Prosecutor’s Office of BiH, coincides with a session of the RS National Assembly where debates on the draft of the new RS Constitution are underway.

The proposed constitution seeks to assert RS as a state for the Serb people, grant rights to self-determination, establish a regional army, and eliminate the Council of Peoples. Additionally, RS lawmakers are set to discuss the formation of a unique court and prosecutor’s office aimed at “upholding the constitutional order.”

This move follows Dodik’s conviction on February 26, where he was sentenced to a year in prison and faced a six-year ban from office by a first-instance verdict from the Court of BiH, due to contempt for decisions by the High Representative in BiH, Kristijan Šmit.

In the wake of the verdict, the RS Assembly passed an unconstitutional law attempting to invalidate the operations of the Court and Prosecutor’s Office of BiH, SIPA, and the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council within that entity.

The unilateral termination of state authority over portions of its territory contravenes the Constitution of BiH, prompting the Constitutional Court of BiH to temporarily suspend the law on March 7.

Despite international community warnings against attempts to disrupt the constitutional order, Dodik has emphasized that RS will not retreat from the proposed legislation.

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