The High Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Christian Schmidt, stated today that celebrating January 9 as the Day of Republika Srpska (RS) is a clear and direct violation of the final and binding decisions of the Constitutional Court of BiH, as well as the decision made by the High Representative on July 1, 2023.
Schmidt warned that disregarding the decisions of the Constitutional Court of BiH constitutes a criminal offense under the Criminal Code of BiH, as stated in the Office of the High Representative (OHR) press release.
The release reminded that the Constitutional Court of BiH highlighted in its ruling that “choosing January 9 as the date to celebrate the RS holiday lacks the symbolic value of collective remembrance that could contribute to strengthening collective identity, which holds special significance in a multiethnic society based on respect for diversity as core values of a modern democratic society.”
“In such a case, people who are not of Serbian ethnicity but live in RS may feel like second-class citizens,” Schmidt emphasized.
According to Schmidt, it is up to the BiH Prosecutor’s Office and police to take appropriate, legally prescribed actions, particularly in cases involving public officials and civil servants who participate in the preparation or organization of the January 9 celebration.
“The rule of law is an indispensable prerequisite for a stable and prosperous future for all citizens of BiH, along with communication, dialogue, and compromise,” the High Representative noted.
He added that these principles should guide decisions on the celebration of the RS Day, as “only then can it be a holiday that all citizens can accept and celebrate, one that strengthens ties among citizens of RS, rather than creating further divisions.”
Today marks the beginning of a three-day celebration of January 9 as the Day of RS, which is attended by a Serbian government delegation, including Prime Minister Miloš Vučević, Speaker of the Serbian Parliament Ana Brnabić, and Patriarch of the Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC) Porfirije.
