The Prosecutor’s Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina has issued an arrest warrant for Milorad Dodik, Radovan Višković, and Nenad Stevandić over alleged attacks on the constitutional order.
The Prosecutor’s Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina has issued an order for the arrest of Milorad Dodik, President of Republika Srpska, along with Prime Minister Radovan Višković and Parliament Speaker Nenad Stevandić. The warrant, issued by Prosecutor Čazim Hasanpahić, seeks to bring them in for questioning on charges of “attacking the constitutional order.”
The decision comes as Republika Srpska authorities push for a controversial constitutional draft that seeks to define the entity as a “state of the Serbian people,” grant it the right to self-determination, create an independent army, and dissolve the Council of Peoples. These proposed changes directly violate Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Constitution.
Under Bosnia’s Criminal Procedure Law, authorities can issue a warrant for compulsory testimony if a summoned individual refuses to comply with judicial institutions. The warrant has been forwarded to judicial police, with assistance requested from Republika Srpska’s Interior Ministry and the State Investigation and Protection Agency (SIPA).
Republika Srpska’s judicial police chief, Željko Dragojević, stated that his office lacks the authority to execute such orders, which fall under SIPA’s jurisdiction.
On March 12, the Republika Srpska National Assembly is set to discuss the proposed constitutional draft and the creation of a special court and prosecution office to “protect the constitutional order.” The moves follow recent laws banning the operation of Bosnia’s judicial and investigative institutions in Republika Srpska, which took effect last week.
Dodik’s legal troubles escalated after he was sentenced to one year in prison by Bosnia’s Court in a first-instance ruling for defying decisions of the High Representative. The ruling also imposed a six-year ban on holding public office.
