Milorad Dodik, the president of Republika Srpska (RS), wants to deport the High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), Christian Schmidt, when he enters the territory of this BiH entity.
He said in a press conference on September 6th that the decree is “in preparation”, and that the entity police will have an order to expel him from the territory of the RS if they find out that he is there.
What did Dodik announce?
In an interview published on September 5th, Milorad Dodik stated that Schmidt “will no longer be able to enter the RS”.
A day later, he stated at a press conference in Istocno Sarajevo that a decree was in preparation, according to which Schmidt would be “deported” if he entered the RS.
What does the Constitution say?
According to the Constitution of BiH, there is freedom of movement on the entire territory of the country.
Also, all persons on the territory of BiH have the right to personal freedom and security, as well as the right to freedom of movement and residence – without discrimination on any basis.
In addition, the Constitution stipulates that it is the competence of the entities to fulfill “all conditions for legal security and protection of persons under their jurisdiction”, and that they will respect internationally recognized human rights.
What are Dodik’s competencies?
As for the competence of the President of the RS in this matter, he does not have the ability to impose laws, but he can propose new legal solutions, other regulations, and acts.
After the adoption of the laws in the National Assembly of the RS (NARS), he signs them, after which they are officially published and enter into force.
In less than a year of Dodik’s mandate, certain controversial laws have already been adopted in the NARS at his proposal, such as amendments to the Criminal Code that criminalize defamation, Slobodna Evropa reports.
