The saga has dragged on for most of this year, starting with a February court ruling that handed Dodik a one‑year prison sentence — likely to be swapped with a monetary fine — for defying the Constitutional Court and encouraging separatist activity. But it’s the political ban that could shake up EU candidate Bosnia’s future, […]
Menej ako 1 min. min.
The saga has dragged on for most of this year, starting with a February court ruling that handed Dodik a one‑year prison sentence — likely to be swapped with a monetary fine — for defying the Constitutional Court and encouraging separatist activity.
But it’s the political ban that could shake up EU candidate Bosnia’s future, and that of the wider region.
Local authorities issued an arrest warrant for Dodik in March, and in April, he bolted to Moscow to meet up with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Widely viewed as Putin’s top Balkan ally, Dodik has openly wielded Kremlin influence to stoke divisions at home.
Dodik hinted he would reject Wednesday’s decision, saying “surrendering is not an option… giving up does not exist.”
Uncertainty remains over who would enforce the decision if Dodik defies it, a problem amplified by the fact that Dodik has been increasing the salaries and procurement of weapons for police forces in the Bosnian Serb-majority region he leads.
“When there was an active warrant for his arrest, he was constantly protected by heavily armed police units… he views the police as a support system — not only for a potential crisis escalation, but primarily for his own personal protection,” Blagovčanin said.
