General Elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina: Dodik at Risk of Defeat in Republika Srpska
The chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Milorad Dodik, said on June 25 in Eastern Sarajevo that Republika Srpska (RS) will form a gendarmerie force to provide safety for its citizens.
Dodik said that a police reserve force could be useful, that is, that it could be engaged is certain ad hoc situations such as the migrant crisis.
“However, an atmosphere was created as if Republika Srpska is being militarized, which is not true. I am all for demilitarization and for certain police forces to remain operational,” he added.
The RS Interior Ministry has withdrawn from the Law on Police that is being deliberated by the RS Assembly the provisions envisaging the forming of a reserve police force.
The international community had strongly criticized the initiative, leading the Interior Ministry to announce it was abandoning the idea, but that it would rename the Support Unit into Gendarmerie.
The embassies of the U.S. and Great Britain have asked for explanation of the move, adding that they are against the introduction of new armed components that have a form of military formations.
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