BANJA LUKA, Feb 27 – A first-instance verdict sentencing Milorad Dodik, President of Republika Srpska (RS), to one year in prison has escalated tensions in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), with the ruling entity’s parliament swiftly moving to block state-level institutions from operating on its territory.
The Court of BiH found Dodik guilty of failing to comply with decisions of Christian Schmidt, the High Representative for BiH, barring him from politics for six years. His co-defendant, former RS Official Gazette director Miloš Lukić, was acquitted. The second-instance verdict is expected by the end of the year.
Dodik said he would not appeal personally but could not prevent his lawyers from doing so. He described the ruling as “politically motivated and driven by racial and national hatred against Serbs” during a rally in Banja Luka on Feb 26. “From today, BiH does not exist any longer,” he declared.
Serbia Reacts to Verdict
Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić called an emergency National Security Council meeting before traveling to Banja Luka at Dodik’s invitation. He condemned the ruling as “unlawful and undemocratic,” arguing it was designed to weaken RS. Following discussions, Dodik insisted that “peace remains the priority” while also announcing plans to bar BiH judicial and security institutions from operating in RS.
RS Assembly Adopts Controversial Laws
On Feb 27, the RS National Assembly adopted legislation preventing the enforcement of BiH laws on its territory, specifically targeting the Court and Prosecutor’s Office of BiH, the State Investigation and Protection Agency (SIPA), and the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Office (HJCP). A ‘foreign agents law’ was also passed, requiring NGOs and independent media receiving foreign funding to register as such, drawing criticism from civil society groups. Opposition parties boycotted the vote.
Assembly Speaker Nenad Stevandić defended the move, saying it aimed to “preserve RS’s constitutional status and, therefore, peace.” In contrast, BiH Presidency member Denis Bećirović labeled it an “aggressive attack on the constitutional order.”
International Community Condemns RS Actions
Christian Schmidt, the High Representative for BiH, warned that RS authorities were “destabilizing institutions exercising constitutional responsibilities of the state,” stressing that “entities must fully comply with the Constitution and BiH laws.”
The EU also condemned the RS parliament’s decisions, stating they “contradict commitments BiH has undertaken on its EU path.”
Legal Experts and Analysts Warn of Crisis
Legal expert Vehid Šehić told European Western Balkans that RS’s legislative moves have “no legal effect under the BiH Constitution” since only the state parliament can repeal laws. He added that the ongoing crisis threatens regional stability.
Tanja Topić, a political analyst with the Friedrich Ebert Foundation, noted in EWB that Dodik’s government “escalates tensions to extract concessions” before later presenting itself as a stabilizing force. “The public is anxious, some people have already packed their bags,” she said.
Neven Anđelić, an assistant professor at Regent’s University London, told EWB that the verdict’s fallout was “almost inevitable,” given BiH’s fragile political system. While he sees limited capacity for actual violence, he questioned the West’s ability to enforce stability. “The only good news is that both Republika Srpska and BiH lack the capacity to use violence,” he said.
