The Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina has sought an Interpol arrest warrant for Milorad Dodik, the President of Republika Srpska, and Nenad Stevandić, the Speaker of the RS National Assembly, prompting a response from Serbian authorities.

Ivica Dačić, Serbia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, affirmed that both Dodik and Stevandić are Serbian citizens.

“The Republic of Serbia is committed to safeguarding the rights and interests of its citizens, both within and beyond its borders. We uphold the sovereignty and human rights of all individuals, which underpins our international responsibilities. Milorad Dodik and Nenad Stevandić are citizens of Serbia, and the international arrest warrants referenced by BiH are yet to undergo the Interpol General Secretariat’s review regarding their publication criteria, thus not warranting any action,” Dačić declared.

He continued, stating, “In light of their citizenship, INTERPOL Belgrade has sent a protest note to the INTERPOL General Secretariat,” citing that the requests for these warrants infringe upon Article 3 of the INTERPOL Statute, which prohibits:

“Any action or intervention in matters with political, military, religious, or racial implications is strictly forbidden within the Organization.”

“The INTERPOL General Secretariat has acknowledged our protest and indicated it will consider it, keeping us updated on the outcome,” Dačić added.

The request for an international arrest warrant for Dodik and Stevandić is now subject to review by the Interpol General Secretariat in Lyon. If approved, it will activate, allowing actions from Interpol member states.

The Court of BiH stated that the warrant was requested based on the proposal from the State Prosecutor’s Office due to suspicions of the two officials threatening the constitutional order of BiH. They allegedly crossed the state line and left BiH, utilizing their positions as high-ranking RS officials while evading required border control protocols.

If the review by Interpol is successful, a so-called “red notice” will be issued, accessible to all 195 member nations. This notice serves as an international request for locating and provisionally detaining an individual pending extradition or related legal processes.

According to the 2013 Extradition Treaty with BiH, Serbia can extradite Dodik even as a Serbian citizen, as Article 8, paragraph 1 explicitly states that citizenship does not prevent extradition. Should Interpol issue a red notice and BiH files for extradition, Serbia is legally bound to follow through, although the final determination lies with the appropriate court and the Minister of Justice.

Dodik’s Serbian citizenship does not hinder his potential extradition to BiH, as he faces charges in Sarajevo for a crime that carries a minimum five-year sentence. This satisfies the Extradition Treaty conditions between Serbia and BiH, allowing for extradition of citizens suspected of serious crimes.

The BiH Prosecutor’s Office has indicated that Dodik and Stevandić are considered primarily responsible for enacting laws that obstruct some state judicial institutions and the BiH Investigation and Protection Agency (SIPA) in BiH.

A central arrest warrant was previously issued, applicable within BiH, but it was judged that standard detention processes posed too significant a security risk.

On Monday, Dodik crossed the border of Bosnia and Herzegovina for the first time since the warrant was initiated, opening the door to proceedings for an international arrest warrant. After a brief stay in Serbia, he proceeded to Israel, where he is currently located.

Following the warrant request, Dodik claimed that the judiciary in BiH is being misused for political ends.

“Nothing surprising, the judiciary is being abused; Muslims from Sarajevo are doing everything possible, along with the unconstitutional Prosecutor’s Office and the Court of BiH to manipulate it,” Dodik stated from Jerusalem. He mentioned plans to return to BiH next week.

“I will continue my work, as I have important activities lined up for the RS, and I plan to return peacefully next week,” Dodik remarked.

The RS government expressed expectations for Interpol to dismiss BiH’s request for an international arrest warrant against Dodik and Stevandić, declaring, “It is evidently a political maneuver against RS institutions by the unconstitutional judicial bodies of BiH.”

The BiH Border Police announced the initiation of an investigation into how Dodik managed to cross the border, particularly given reports that his escort crossed the Rača border without standard procedures.

A similar scenario occurred in mid-March when Stevandić exited to Serbia during significant student protests on March 15. He later returned to BiH, but the circumstances of that return remain unclear. RS Prime Minister Radovan Višković has yet to cross the border, hence no Interpol arrest warrant has been sought for him.

Arrest would pose significant risks.

Security experts warn that any attempt to arrest Dodik would require meticulous planning to avert armed confrontation with RS police, who have pledged to protect him and his associates.

Reuters reports uncertainty regarding the future for Dodik, noting a decline in support among ordinary Serbs, as few have heeded his calls to resign from state positions.

Predrag Kojović, an MP from Our Party (NS) in the BiH parliament, stated that attempting to arrest Dodik is inherently risky, urging that the judicial police should not be pressured into action.

“Other law enforcement agencies are also involved, and I trust them to determine the timing and place for executing their legal obligations. They should be allowed to conduct their duties properly,” Kojović commented to BHRT.

He noted that Dodik is currently traveling with substantial armed protection, yet expressed optimism that there would be no escalation, as Dodik lacks support from citizens, the opposition in RS, or the international community.

Left the Jerusalem conference in haste

The Israeli publication “Israel Hayom,” which previously reported on Dodik’s contentious involvement in the “Conference on Combating Anti-Semitism” in Jerusalem, revealed that Israeli officials had indicated to Dodik that he was unwelcome, prompting his early exit.

Following the announcement of the international arrest warrant request, Israeli officials communicated to Dodik that he was not invited, causing him to depart with an escort.

N1 BiH noted that Dodik arrived in Israel at the behest of Diaspora Affairs Minister Amihai Chikli, who has faced criticism for inviting far-right representatives to the event, leading many notable figures to withdraw.

Dodik stated to the Jerusalem Post that he left the event due to feeling unwelcome.

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