The Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) has emphasized that designating January 9th as the Day of Republika Srpska (RS) does not symbolize collective and shared remembrance in a multiethnic society and that it is discriminatory, the Office of the High Representative (OHR) announced today, January 8th.
The OHR recalls that marking January 9th constitutes a clear disregard for and failure to implement the final and binding decisions of the Constitutional Court of BiH.
Failure to comply with the decisions of the Constitutional Court may constitute a criminal offense under the provisions of the Criminal Code of BiH, and taking legally prescribed measures falls within the competence of the relevant law enforcement authorities, especially when it comes to holders of public office.
The High Representative stressed that respect for the rule of law, together with dialogue, discussion, and compromise, is of key importance so that any form of marking the Day of RS could be inclusive and accepted by all citizens, thereby strengthening social cohesion instead of deepening divisions.
It should be recalled that the authorities of the smaller BiH entity, RS, will also this year, on Friday, January 9th, mark the unconstitutional so-called day of this entity.
Furthermore, it should be mentioned that the day as the entity’s day is not disputed; the problematic issue is, of course, the date, because it is based on historical events that are significant and important for only one people, the Serbs. Nevertheless, Dodik’s clique will celebrate, outside the framework of the world of law and the Constitution, the Constitutional Court, and the Venice Commission.
