The Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina has sentenced the President of the Republika Srpska, Milorad Dodik, to one year in prison and a six-year ban on holding political office for failing to comply with the decisions of the High Representative of the international community, Christian Schmidt.
The acting director of the Official Gazette of this entity, Miloš Lukić, was acquitted of all charges.
While awaiting the verdict, a protest was held in Banja Luka in support of Dodik. Some demonstrators were seen holding signs that read “The conviction of the president is an attack on Republika Srpska” and “Srpska is our pride, the president is our defender.”
Dodik was seen entering the building of the National Assembly of the Republika Srpska in Banja Luka on Wednesday, where a session was held before the verdict announcement. Earlier, he had stated that he would not appear for the reading of the judgment at the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Sarajevo.
