The Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina announced on Tuesday that it has rejected the appeals of former Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik, upholding previous rulings that bar him from political participation and strip him of his mandate as regional president.
Dodik — the pro-Russian nationalist who has long sought the separation of Republika Srpska from Bosnia and its unification with Serbia — was banned from holding public office for six years in February after defying decisions by both the international envoy and the Constitutional Court. He was also ordered to pay a fine.
His legal team appealed to the Constitutional Court after the election authorities removed him from office, but the Court ruled that both appeals were unfounded, stating that the original decisions did not violate the Constitution or existing laws.
In response, Dodik claimed the Court’s ruling was politically motivated — a familiar refrain from the man who has for years undermined Bosnia’s state institutions while pushing for ethnic division and defiance of international law.
Analysts say the ruling raises questions about the legitimacy of Republika Srpska’s restructured government, formed by Dodik after his mandate was revoked, as he continued to act in the capacity of president despite the ban.
The Election Commission has scheduled snap presidential elections in Republika Srpska for November 23, and Dodik’s SNSD party has already nominated a new candidate.
Last month, the ruling coalition led by Dodik held a parliamentary session to appoint an interim president and annul certain separatist laws. Following this, the U.S. Treasury Department lifted sanctions on Dodik, his family, allies, and affiliated companies — a move the U.S. State Department welcomed, noting that the parliamentary steps were the result of U.S.-led efforts to defuse the crisis in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
