An appeals court in Bosnia has upheld a sentence against Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik, convicting him of separatist actions that sparked tensions in the Balkan country. Dodik was sentenced to one year in prison and banned from politics for six years for failing to comply with rulings by the international envoy overseeing Bosnia’s 1995 peace accords.
Dodik rejected the court ruling, stating, “I do not accept the verdict. I will seek help from Russia and I will write a letter to the US administration.” He emphasized that he would continue to act as the Bosnian Serb president as long as he has the support of the Bosnian Serb parliament. The European Union has called on all parties to respect the court’s verdict, saying it “is binding and must be respected.” The EU also urged parties to acknowledge the independence and impartiality of the court.
The conviction led to uproar in Bosnia’s autonomous Serb Republic, triggering the country’s worst political crisis since the conflict in the early 1990s, which killed about 100,000 people between 1992 and 1995. Dodik has repeatedly called for the separation of the Serb-run half of Bosnia to join Serbia, prompting the administration of former US President Joe Biden to impose sanctions against him and his allies in 2022.
Dodik’s lawyer, Goran Bubic, announced plans to appeal the ruling to the constitutional court and seek a temporary delay of the implementation of the verdict pending the decision. The Bosnian Serb leader has also been accused of corruption and pro-Russia policies, further complicating the region’s fragile politics.
The international community remains watchful, with the EU emphasizing the importance of respecting the court’s verdict. As tensions persist, the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina remains precarious, with potential implications for regional stability.