Bosnia and Herzegovina must pursue political and legal solutions to ensure the country functions effectively and guarantees equality among its peoples, Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković said on Wednesday, urging a de-escalation of tensions following a court ruling against Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik.
A Bosnian court sentenced Dodik to one year in prison and barred him from political office for six years in a first-instance ruling for failing to implement decisions by High Representative Christian Schmidt.
“Legally speaking, this is not a final verdict. That’s the first thing,” Plenković told reporters in Rijeka. “Since it is not final, the question is what will happen if an appeal is lodged.”
His comments came as protests erupted in Banja Luka, where Dodik and his supporters condemned the ruling.
“There are protests today, speeches are being made, so naturally, political reactions are more intense than usual,” Plenković said.
“In any case, I think it is important to lower tensions and focus on political and legal solutions that will make Bosnia and Herzegovina functional—where all three constituent peoples have equal rights and where responsibility for the country’s stability lies with elected institutions and political parties,” he said.
He stressed the need for a measured response. “It is time to take a step back and assess the situation moving forward,” he added.
Plenković also noted that the ruling does not immediately impact Dodik or Bosnia’s governance. “This is not something that takes effect immediately, so it does not pose an immediate threat to him personally or to the functioning of the country. We will have to wait and see how the appeal process unfolds,” he said.
Dodik’s defense team and the prosecution have the right to appeal the verdict, and the legal and political consequences will only take effect once a final ruling is issued.
