President of Republika Srpska continues diplomatic outreach as legal tensions escalate
Milorad Dodik, President of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Serb entity Republika Srpska (RS), announced another working visit to Budapest to meet Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, despite an active arrest warrant issued by Bosnia’s state court.
In a statement posted to social media platform X, Dodik wrote, “I will be on a working visit to Hungary at the invitation of my friend and host, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán,” without providing a specific date for the meeting.
He emphasized that the cooperation between Republika Srpska and Hungary serves as an example of “choosing respect and learning, rather than picking between East and West.” Dodik also noted that the visit will focus on strategic projects in energy and agriculture.
Arrest Warrant Ignored Amid Political Defiance
Dodik’s planned trip comes despite a central arrest warrant issued by the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina for him, RS Prime Minister Radovan Višković, and RS National Assembly Speaker Nenad Stevandić, over alleged efforts to undermine Bosnia’s constitutional order.
Authorities from Bosnia’s State Investigation and Protection Agency (SIPA) attempted to arrest Dodik in East Sarajevo on April 23, but were blocked by heavily armed members of the RS Interior Ministry, according to reports.
Although the court formally requested INTERPOL issue a red notice for Dodik and Stevandić, the request was rejected twice, enabling the accused leaders to move freely within Republika Srpska and even cross international borders without consequence.
Political Implications and International Concern
The planned meeting with Orbán underscores the growing geopolitical divide in the Balkans and the strengthening ties between nationalist leaders in Central and Eastern Europe. Viktor Orbán, known for his pro-Russian stance and criticism of EU foreign policy, has consistently maintained close relations with Dodik, despite the latter’s legal and political troubles.
Dodik’s visits abroad and continued presence in Republika Srpska, under the protection of local police, further complicate efforts by Bosnia’s central institutions and international stakeholders to enforce rule of law and national unity.
