President of Republika Srpska Milorad Dodik has dismissed the court’s decision to revoke his mandate, asserting that it is a politically motivated move by Sarajevo. In a post on X, he called the ruling ‘more crap from Sarajevo,’ signaling his intent to defy the decision and remain in office. The election commission had annulled his mandate after a Sarajevo court sentenced him to one year in prison and banned him from political office for six years over alleged constitutional violations.
Dodik’s defiance is rooted in his long-standing clashes with international envoy Christian Schmidt, who oversees the 1995 Dayton Peace Agreement. Schmidt, a German national, heads the Office of the High Representative, which has been critical of Dodik’s actions, including his refusal to recognize the binding nature of Schmidt’s decrees in Republika Srpska. In February, a Sarajevo court ruled that Dodik acted illegally by signing laws that made Schmidt’s decrees non-binding, a move Dodik contested as Western interference.
The Central Election Commission (CEC) has stated that Dodik’s removal from office follows established legal procedures, as the court’s ruling mandated it. CEC member Suad Arnautovic emphasized that the decision aligns with the law and will take effect after the appeals period concludes. If the appeals fail, early elections are expected within 90 days. Meanwhile, Moscow has condemned the court’s decision as ‘absurd, unjust, and anti-democratic,’ calling the case ‘fabricated’ to remove an ‘undesirable leader’ who opposes Western influence.
Dodik’s refusal to step down reflects broader tensions in Bosnia and Herzegovina, where ethnic divisions and the legacy of the Bosnian War continue to shape political dynamics. His continued presence in office could further complicate efforts to stabilize the region, while international observers remain divided on the legitimacy of the court’s ruling and its implications for the country’s fragile political landscape.