Dodik Called in for Questioning over Denial of Srebrenica Genocide

Milorad Dodik (BETAPHOTO/MILOS MISKOV/MO)

The Bosnia and Herzegovina Prosecutor's Office has called Serb member of the Bosnia and Herzegovina Presidency and leader of the Alliance of Independent Social Democrats Milorad Dodik in for questioning over his denial of genocide in Srebrenica.

Dodik confirmed the information during a visit to Mostar, commenting on earlier news that the head of the municipality of Jablanica, Damir Sabanovic, had pressed criminal charges against him for not having green-lighted the engagement of Armed Forces helicopters in extinguishing fires in the Jablanica area. 

"Everyone has a right to that. I think I am a man against whom the most criminal charges [have been pressed]. Something comes in every day. I see that it has come in from the Bosnia and Herzegovina Prosecutor's Office that I be questioned about [my] alleged denial of genocide," Dodik said, as reported by Sarajevo-based website Klix late on Aug. 19.

He added that he was against the mandate of the high representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina who imposed laws, regardless of what, as he put it, the laws contained. "Obviously, we in Bosnia and Herzegovina are never going to agree on that. We Serbs as not subjects and do not want to have foreigners who will decide on that," said Dodik.

Former high representative Valentin Inzko on July 23 imposed a law banning genocide denial. On the same day, the Bosnia and Herzegovina Prosecutor's Office stated it would form cases against all who violated this law.

The National Assembly of Republika Srpska has rejected Inzko's decision and has decided that Serb representatives will not partake in the work of the common institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina, primarily the Presidency, Council of Ministers and the parliament. The RS Assembly has also passed a law under which calling RS "a genocidal and an aggressor creation" is punishable.