On April 24, 2025, Bosnia and Herzegovina’s State Investigation and Protection Agency (SIPA) provided an explanation for the small number of police officers deployed during the attempt to arrest Milorad Dodik, the president of the Republika Srpska (RS) entity, on April 23, 2025. According to SIPA, the decision to engage “a small number of officers in civilian clothing” was made to minimize risks and avoid potential conflict during the execution of the arrest order issued by the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the State Prosecutor’s Office.
SIPA emphasized that the operation was conducted with caution to prevent any disruption to peace and security in Bosnia and Herzegovina, noting their responsibility not to jeopardize the region’s stability.
On the evening of April 23, members of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MPB) of Republika Srpska blocked SIPA’s officers from entering the RS Government Administrative Center in East Sarajevo, where Dodik was present at the time.
Dodik, alongside the RS Parliament Speaker Nenad Stevandić and Prime Minister Radovan Višković, faces accusations of undermining the constitutional order and has been subject to a central arrest warrant in Bosnia and Herzegovina after failing to respond to the Prosecutor’s summons.
SIPA also clarified that its officers had informed the RS MPB and Dodik’s personal security about the arrest order but were told that Dodik’s arrest would not be allowed. The RS authorities stated they would take actions to protect the person in question, according to the laws of Republika Srpska.
As a result of these developments, the arrest attempt was not carried out, and SIPA officers withdrew from the scene.
Meanwhile, there is anticipation regarding the response to a request from the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which has asked INTERPOL to reconsider its decision not to issue an international red notice for Dodik and Stevandić. INTERPOL previously declined to issue such a notice after a request from the court on March 27.
In February, a first-instance court sentenced Dodik to one year in prison and prohibited him from engaging in political activities for six years. Following this ruling, authorities in Republika Srpska passed laws that hinder the actions of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s justice and investigative bodies within the entity’s territory.
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