An appeals court in Sarajevo has upheld the sentence against Milorad Dodik, president of Republika Srpska, for defying decisions from the Constitutional Court and the international Office of the High Representative (OHR). The ruling, which was announced on April 1, 2025, confirmed a one-year prison term and a six-year ban on Dodik’s political activities. This decision has escalated tensions between Republika Srpska and the international community, with the Bosnian Serb leader accusing the EU of launching an ‘attack’ on his nation.
Dodik, who has long opposed the EU’s influence in Bosnia and Herzegovina, claimed the ruling was a ‘purely political decision’ orchestrated by Brussels. He accused the EU of using its power to undermine Republika Srpska’s autonomy following his earlier actions to make OHR decrees non-binding on his territory. This move, which he argued, was in response to the OHR’s perceived overreach, has drawn criticism from the international community, including Moscow, which denounced the conviction as a political tool.
The ruling came after a court in Sarajevo found Dodik responsible for obstructing constitutional rulings and challenging the authority of the OHR, led by German national Christian Schmidt. Dodik has consistently accused the OHR of overstepping its mandate, arguing that its interventions infringe upon the sovereignty of Republyka Srpska. The conviction underscores the deepening political divide between the entity and the international community, particularly as Bosnia and Herzegovina continues its bid for EU candidate status, with the OHR playing a critical role in the process.