Yesterday, the Prosecutor’s Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) announced it is investigating Milorad Dodik, the President of Republika Srpska (RS), for undermining BiH’s constitutional order. This announcement came just a day after he enacted laws that prohibit the functioning of the state judiciary and police in the territory of RS.

In a ruling from last week, the Court of BiH sentenced Dodik to one year in prison and imposed a six-year ban on him holding the presidency of RS for failing to respect the decisions made by the High Representative of the international community in BiH.

Dodik has rejected this verdict. Subsequently, the RS National Assembly passed laws that prevent the operations of the BiH Court, Prosecutor’s Office, State Investigation and Protection Agency (SIPA), and the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council of BiH (VSJP) within RS.

According to the Prosecutor’s Office of BiH, investigative actions have been underway since December 2024 on suspicions of a criminal offense: an attack on the constitutional order under Article 156 of BiH’s Criminal Code.

Dodik confirmed yesterday that he, Prime Minister Radovan Višković, several RS ministers, and Speaker of the RS Parliament Nenad Stevandić received summonses for questioning regarding their “undermining of BiH’s constitutional order.” He stated that he will not comply with the summons.

He remarked on social media, “The BiH Prosecutor’s Office is summoning me as a suspect in overthrowing the constitutional order, simply for fulfilling my duties outlined by the Constitution and the decisions of the RS National Assembly.”

Dodik further argued that the Prosecutor’s Office of BiH is “an unconstitutional entity” unqualified to interpret the Constitution, claiming that institutions banned from operating in RS do not align with BiH’s Constitution.

He emphasized that the promptness of their reaction indicates premeditated political persecution. Dodik accused prosecutors from the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina of misusing their position to pursue political vendettas against him and his associates.

In response, Denis Bećirović, a member of BiH’s Presidency, along with other members of the parliamentary leadership, filed an appeal with the Constitutional Court of BiH regarding the controversial laws passed by RS Parliament.

Zvizdić: Dodik will become a fugitive in his own country

Denis Zvizdić, Speaker of the House of Representatives of the BiH Parliament, warned that Dodik risks becoming a fugitive if he continues to ignore the Prosecutor’s Office’s summons.

“Repeatedly ignoring the Prosecutor’s summons could lead to him being a fugitive within his own country,” Zvizdić told reporters in Sarajevo. He added that he has been made aware of individuals under “immense pressure and blackmail” to act in a certain way.

“It has never been the case that an individual can overpower the state. Dodik and his allies will not prevail; BiH will triumph, but it will demand patience and adherence to legal processes,” Zvizdić remarked.

He emphasized that the Bosniaks will maintain calm and refrain from provocations and mentioned that the “Trojka” coalition has initiated a move to dismiss deputy ministers from the Alliance of Independent Social Democrats (SNSD), led by Dodik.

Zvizdić encouraged all state employees, especially in police and intelligence roles, to maintain their positions regardless of their ethnicity.

He expressed anticipation that the Constitutional Court of BiH would deliver a temporary measure soon—or by early next week—to annul the RS laws.

“Bosniaks desire a war to eliminate RS”

Dodik claimed in Belgrade that certain Bosniaks are eager for conflict in BiH to dismantle RS.

According to Dodik, “Bosniaks in Sarajevo seek war, driven by a long-standing desire to ‘resolve the matter’ and take revenge on Serbs, believing they must politically eliminate every Serb who opposes their agenda and thereby erase RS from existence.”

He urged all Serbs in RS to remain “peaceful and composed,” rejecting violent or hostile actions against Bosniaks. Dodik also called on Bosniaks in RS to “stay calm,” expressing a preference for resolving issues through dialogue rather than conflict.

Dodik stated that RS will “remain steady” and explore all avenues to defend itself if political persecution persists from Sarajevo.

Following their meeting, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić remarked that Serbia acknowledges BiH’s territorial integrity and the Dayton Agreement, affirming Serbia’s commitment to promoting dialogue and preserving peace in the region.

Vučić conjectured that politicians in Sarajevo might try to use European support to undermine RS.

He criticized the potential for a “color revolution” in Serbia, which he believed could weaken its influence and support for RS.

Bećirović urges an increase in EUFOR forces

Denis Bećirović (SDP) has called on the European Union to take concrete actions to maintain peace and security in BiH, including augmenting EUFOR forces.

He highlighted the necessity for EUFOR to “decisively implement its mission in BiH” and deploy reserve troops to key strategic locations due to escalating security concerns.

Bećirović cautioned the EU representatives about what he perceives as dangerous actions by RS leadership threatening the Dayton Agreement and constitutional integrity.

He underscored that without safeguarding BiH’s constitutional order, peace and stability cannot be maintained, urging the international community to respond promptly to what he considers anti-Dayton actions that could have severe repercussions.

High Representative Christian Schmidt also called on all involved parties to utilize the available legal frameworks to uphold BiH’s constitutional order.

EU: RS should renounce provocative rhetoric

Luigi Sorecca, head of the EU Delegation to BiH, emphasized that unilateral efforts to undermine BiH’s state institutions are intolerable.

Sorecca noted the significance of leveraging domestic legal remedies to safeguard BiH’s constitutional integrity and acknowledged the appeal filed with the Constitutional Court of BiH.

The EU continues to monitor the situation in BiH closely and remains committed to its sovereignty, territorial integrity, constitutional order, and European integration path, he stated.

A statement from EU headquarters warned that RS authorities’ actions contradict BiH’s commitments towards European integration.

The EU has called upon RS’s political leadership to “moderate and avoid provocative rhetoric and divisive actions.”

Simultaneously, the US expressed concern over the anti-constitutional and anti-Dayton laws passed by the RS parliament, with the US Embassy in BiH declaring, “This is a deliberate provocation of BiH’s constitutional order and poses a direct threat to the country’s stability and security as well as the strategic aims of the United States.”

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