On Monday, March 10, Milorad Dodik, the President of Republika Srpska, stated that he had not received a summons from the Prosecutor’s Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina. This follows his claim from the previous week that he had been called to testify as a “suspect in the overthrow of the constitutional order.”

The Prosecutor’s Office of BiH revealed on March 6 that they had been investigating since December due to suspicions of a “attack on the constitutional order.”

Details regarding what the investigation is specifically about or who the implicated suspects might be have not been disclosed. The Criminal Code of BiH prescribes a five-year prison sentence for such offenses, coupled with the potential for a ban on fulfilling official duties.

In a social media announcement last week, Dodik had mentioned that he was invited by the BiH Prosecutor’s Office to report on Friday, March 7, to provide a statement “as a suspect in the overthrow of the constitutional order,” and he expressed his intention not to comply.

He later elaborated to the media that he had received another summons to testify on Monday, March 10.

The Prosecutor’s Office of BiH has not responded to Dodik’s claims regarding his summons for questioning.

The Criminal Procedure Code of BiH allows for the possibility of enforcing attendance for testimony if an individual declines to appear before judicial institutions.

In a social media update on Monday, Dodik reiterated accusations against the BiH Prosecutor’s Office, deeming it an “opponent of RS.” He also asserted that the Prosecutor’s Office lacks jurisdiction within that entity, alluding to an unconstitutional law passed by the RS Assembly aimed at prohibiting the operations of four judicial and investigative bodies of BiH.

On February 27, the RS Assembly enacted an unconstitutional law intended to obstruct the functions of the Court and Prosecutor’s Office of BiH, the State Investigation and Protection Agency (SIPA), and the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council within its territory.

This aspiration was thwarted by the Constitutional Court of BiH, which issued a temporary measure on March 7, halting the application of the legislation enacted by the RS Assembly.

The unilateral revocation of the authority of the state of BiH over certain regions is inconsistent with the Constitution of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and such actions by the RS authorities have been denounced by the international community.

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