EU: Verdict Against Dodik Binding, Must Be Respected

Milorad Dodik (Photo: HINA/FENA/Hazim Aljovic)

On Aug. 1, the European Union said in a press release that the final verdict against Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik must be respected, calling on all sides to recognize the independence and impartiality of the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which brought it.

An unnamed EU spokesperson said in a written statement that "the EU takes note of the criminal conviction in appeal" of Dodik. "The verdict is binding and must be respected. The EU calls on all parties to acknowledge the independence and impartiality of the court, and to respect and uphold its verdict," the EU spokesperson stated.

The Appellate Council of the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina upheld the verdict of first instance against Dodik, sentencing him to one year in prison and banning him for six years from the office of president of Republika Srpska due to non-compliance with the decisions of the high representative in Bosnia. The Central Electoral Commission of Bosnia and Herzegovina should end Dodik's term in office within 15 days, and then call an extraordinary election for the president of Republika Srpska within three months.

Dodik has said that he does not accept the verdict, that it was "created by the European Union" and that the Assembly of Republika Srpska would vote on it. Earlier, the entity legislature adopted laws prohibiting the operation of the Court and Prosecutor's Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Republika Srpska. Dodik has received support from Serbian leadership.