BANJA LUKA, April 3 – Interpol has rejected a request from Bosnia and Herzegovina’s (BiH) top court to issue a red notice for Milorad Dodik, president of the Bosnian Serb entity Republika Srpska, and National Assembly Speaker Nenad Stevandić, citing political considerations.
The Court of BiH confirmed the decision to Radio Free Europe after seeking international warrants for Dodik, Stevandić, and Republika Srpska Prime Minister Radovan Višković, who traveled abroad despite a domestic arrest warrant issued against them.
Dodik, who also visited Russia last month for talks with President Vladimir Putin, is facing charges of undermining the constitutional order of Bosnia and Herzegovina. He was sentenced in February to one year in prison and six years of political disqualification for refusing to comply with decisions of the international High Representative.
On Wednesday, Dodik said on social media platform X that Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić had informed him of Interpol’s rejection, following an appeal from Belgrade. He also thanked Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and leaders of other countries that had supported him, calling the charges politically motivated.
Serbia’s Interior Minister Ivica Dačić previously argued that the request violated Article 3 of Interpol’s constitution, which bars the organization from involvement in political, military, religious, or racial matters.
In response to Dodik’s sentencing, Republika Srpska’s National Assembly passed a series of controversial laws, including a draft constitution and legislation blocking the enforcement of BiH state institutions in the entity’s territory.