The Municipal Board of the Bosniak Party (BS) in Bijelo Polje has proposed to the Municipal Assembly to rescind the “Risto Ratković” literary award given to Radovan Karadžić, the former president of the Bosnian entity of Republika Srpska and a convicted criminal.

According to the statement from BS, Karadžić received a life sentence for genocide, crimes against humanity, and breaches of the laws and customs of war.

“Radovan Karadžić was awarded this literary honor in 1993 for a collection of poetry. We contend that this recognition was conferred for purely political motives rather than the merit of his work,” the statement reads.

“By granting this award to a convicted felon for genocide, we believe a permanent blemish has been cast upon our city, which is celebrated for its harmonious coexistence, multiculturalism, and unity among various religious and ethnic groups. Furthermore, this accolade is a burden on the Risto Ratković House as many poets have declined or returned this recognition, and several others choose not to participate in events organized by the Risto Ratković House,” the BS municipal board’s statement concludes.

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