Milorad Dodik’s attempts to subvert the rule of law have once again failed. The Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina today rejected Dodik’s desperate appeal, confirming the final verdict of the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the decision of the Central Election Commission to strip him of his mandate as President of Republika Srpska. Dodik was convicted for openly defying the High Representative in BiH, sentenced to one year in prison, and banned from holding public office for six years.
Dodik’s brazen attempts to question the authority of the High Representative and challenge the criminal laws under which he was sentenced were deemed groundless and incompatible with the Constitution of BiH and the European Convention. His claims of judicial bias and attempts to manipulate legal proceedings reveal a blatant disregard for democratic institutions.
The Constitutional Court emphasized that the criminal offense for which Dodik was convicted was legally binding at the time he signed disputed decrees, and dismissed his attempts to escape accountability by attacking the integrity of judges. Dodik’s behavior exposes a long-standing pattern of political arrogance and lawlessness.
With this ruling, all avenues to undermine justice are closed. Dodik’s mandate has been revoked, and early presidential elections in Republika Srpska are scheduled for November 23, leaving no room for his continued defiance. The message is clear: no individual, not even a powerful political figure, is above the law.
