Germany’s Minister of State for Europe and Climate, Anna Luhrmann, has said she and her delegation were threatened with violence by associates of Milorad Dodik, President of Republika Srpska, during an official visit to Banja Luka on Friday.
Luhrmann made the statement on X (formerly Twitter), revealing that the threats occurred at the end of her visit, during which she met with civil society representatives and the political opposition. She described Banja Luka as a “wonderful city with good people” but condemned Dodik’s behavior as “destructive and isolated.”
“Towards the end of my program in Banja Luka, Dodik once again demonstrated his destructive approach. His representatives threatened me and my delegation with violence. This is a sign of weakness. Dodik is highly isolated and lacks support from the people of Republika Srpska,” she wrote.
The visit came a day after Germany and Austria announced an entry ban on Dodik, Republika Srpska Prime Minister Radovan Višković, and National Assembly Speaker Nenad Stevandić due to their role in escalating the constitutional crisis in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
In response, the Government of Republika Srpska declared Luhrmann persona non grata, calling her presence and public statements “a direct interference in internal affairs” and a “violation of international conventions.”
“To protect the political and institutional integrity of Republika Srpska, we are introducing reciprocal measures as a legitimate response,” the entity’s government said in a statement.
Mounting International Pressure
The travel bans imposed by Germany and Austria are part of a broader diplomatic push to counter Republika Srpska’s attempts to undermine Bosnia’s constitutional order. In March, the Bosnian Court issued national arrest warrants for Dodik, Višković, and Stevandić, accusing them of violating Bosnia’s legal framework.
All three have ignored summons for questioning and continue to defy state institutions.
Dodik is already under U.S. and U.K. sanctions, but the EU has yet to adopt similar measures, largely due to Hungary’s opposition.
Western governments warn that Dodik’s actions are aimed at seceding Republika Srpska from Bosnia, posing a serious threat to regional peace and stability.
In February, Dodik was sentenced to one year in prison and barred from holding office for six years for refusing to implement decisions from the international High Representative. In retaliation, the National Assembly of Republika Srpska passed laws to ban the work of national-level institutions—including the judiciary, prosecutors, and state police—within its territory.
Dodik signed these laws into effect on March 5.
