High Representative Christian Schmidt visited Srebrenica on Tuesday, despite repeated threats from Republika Srpska (RS) President Milorad Dodik, who had vowed to have him arrested if he entered the entity.
Schmidt toured the Srebrenica-Potočari Memorial Center and met with its director, Emir Suljagić, to discuss plans for the 30th anniversary of the 1995 genocide. His visit comes amid ongoing political tensions, as Dodik has repeatedly refused to recognize Schmidt’s authority and has been sentenced to a year in prison by Bosnia’s state court for failing to implement his decisions.
Dodik has frequently threatened Schmidt with arrest, declaring last week, “If he enters RS, he will be detained and expelled. Our services are tracking his movements.” However, Schmidt has previously dismissed such remarks. During a visit to Srebrenica in 2023, he responded to similar threats by saying, “Didn’t I just enter RS today?”
Meanwhile, questions remain over how Dodik, who is under a domestic arrest warrant, managed to cross the Bosnia-Serbia border unimpeded on Monday evening. Bosnia’s Border Police confirmed that a convoy of four to five vehicles, using flashing lights, passed through the Rača border crossing without stopping at 18:25 local time.
Border regulations require diplomatic delegations to provide advance notice and passenger details. The Border Police stated they are investigating the incident but did not clarify who was in the vehicles. They noted that the Rača crossing lacks a physical barrier, implying there was no way to halt the convoy.
The incident has raised concerns about border security and law enforcement oversight. Calls for accountability have intensified, with critics questioning why authorities did not pursue the convoy or alert other security agencies. The head of Bosnia’s Border Police, Mirko Kuprešaković, along with officers on duty at the time, now face scrutiny over the unauthorized crossing.
