The leader of Bosnian Serbs, Milorad Dodik, has chosen not to appeal the February decision by the Sarajevo Court that sanctioned him for actions contradicting the rulings of the international peace envoy, which constitutes a criminal act. Dodik’s defiance has escalated political tensions in the Western Balkan country, which has since entered a turbulent period.
The court’s decision was not final, and legally, the controversial leader has no alternative but to appeal it. However, he has announced that he will not be present at the court session scheduled for next Thursday.
“As far as I am concerned, the verdict does not exist. It is zero, it is void,” Dodik said in an interview with Euronews Serbia. “I haven’t even appealed it, as the Parliament of Republika Srpska declared that the work of the Sarajevo court is prohibited in its territory, as the court itself is unconstitutional,” he clarified.
At the same time, Dodik dismissed claims that he has fueled tensions with leaders of other ethnic groups in Bosnia and Herzegovina and has brought the country close to a new conflict. “What I want is to build bridges of communication and preserve peace. A year ago, I was accused by other leaders as a warmonger, but nothing happened,” Dodik stated.
Furthermore, the Serbian leader questioned the legitimacy of the High Representative, Christian Schmidt, emphasizing that he acted against Schmidt’s decisions because those decisions themselves contradicted the Dayton Agreement, signed in 1995 to end the war in the country.
