High Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), Christian Schmidt, has issued an order prohibiting the implementation of resolutions adopted by the Republika Srpska (RS) National Assembly in late December 2024. The Office of the High Representative (OHR) announced the decision today, describing the resolutions as anti-Dayton and legally unfounded.
Violation of the Dayton Agreement
The resolutions passed on December 24 and 25, 2024, were deemed an imprudent attempt by the RS Assembly to create distinct legal frameworks that undermine the principles of the Dayton Peace Agreement. This agreement forms the foundation of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s legal structure.
Schmidt’s order declares any attempt to enforce the resolutions, particularly their most dangerous elements, as prohibited and punishable by law.
“The ruling coalition in RS will determine whether there are legal consequences based on their actions,” the OHR stated. Schmidt urged RS Assembly members to consider the repercussions of their decisions, describing the resolutions as a hastily composed and legally baseless mixture of parliamentary declarations.
Calls for Legal and Democratic Processes
The OHR emphasized that the right to a fair trial must be upheld through established legal procedures and respect for the rule of law, rather than through the unilateral creation of rules.
Background on RS Resolutions
The RS Assembly had adopted a resolution on December 25, 2024, requesting that RS President Milorad Dodik not respond to summons from the BiH Court until he is deemed medically fit to participate in proceedings. The Assembly also instructed RS representatives in BiH institutions to suspend decision-making until the BiH Court and Prosecutor’s Office halt proceedings against Dodik and acting RS Official Gazette Director Miloš Lukić.
Additionally, the Assembly called for a suspension of decision-making on European integration processes until conditions aligned with democratic principles and the rule of law are restored.
Legal Proceedings Against Dodik
Dodik is currently facing charges in the BiH Court for defying decisions made by the High Representative.
Schmidt’s decision underscores the international community’s commitment to upholding the Dayton Agreement and maintaining Bosnia and Herzegovina’s sovereignty and legal order.
