Bosnia’s election commission has revoked the mandate of Milorad Dodik, the president of the Serb-majority Republika Srpska (RS), following his refusal to accept a court ruling that sentenced him to a year in prison and banned him from politics for six years. Dodik was found guilty of obstructing the implementation of Bosnia’s 1995 peace agreement, a deal that ended the brutal civil war that claimed around 100,000 lives. The mandate removal will take effect after the appeal period ends, with an early election for RS president to follow within 90 days.
Dodik, a key separatist figure and ally of Russia, dismissed the sentence and vowed to keep working, declaring on social media that “surrender is not an option.” He has sought backing from both Moscow and former U.S. President Donald Trump. The RS government and Dodik’s SNSD party echoed his stance, calling the sentence politically motivated and urging a unity government. His lawyer announced plans to appeal the verdict and request that its enforcement be halted. Despite the commission’s decision, enforcing it in RS remains uncertain, as Bosnian Serb authorities may simply refuse to comply.
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Milorad Dodik’s sentencing stems from his open defiance of Bosnia’s Constitutional Court and the Office of the High Representative, an international post responsible for upholding the post-war peace deal. Dodik pushed separatist laws through the RS parliament, which were later suspended by the court, and refused to appear before prosecutors when summoned prompting an arrest warrant. His actions have deepened Bosnia’s worst political crisis since the 1992–1995 war.
Dodik has long advocated for Republika Srpska to break away from Bosnia, threatening the fragile multi-ethnic balance established under the Dayton Peace Accords. International reactions to his sentence have been mixed. While leaders of Russia, Hungary, and Serbia condemned it as politically motivated, Western institutions view it as a necessary step to uphold the rule of law. The political climate remains tense, as Dodik continues to wield strong influence within RS and maintains support from foreign allies who share his nationalist vision. With Bosnia already struggling with a weak central government and ethnic division, the situation risks further destabilizing the country unless the legal process is enforced and political tensions ease.
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