The entity of Republika Srpska (RS), by not respecting its international obligations, is pushing the country into financial difficulties. While a resolution is awaited regarding the debt to the Slovenian Viaduct, Milorad Dodik continues to draw attention to himself. He now claims that the United Kingdom (UK) planned to kill him. From the Embassy of the UK in our country, there is no response to such allegations. He further claims that he will be the Prime Minister of RS if the Central Election Commission (CEC) bans him from acting, and he continues his attacks on state judiciary and police agencies. A response arrives from the State Investigation and Protection Agency (SIPA).
To the country that imposed sanctions on the President of RS and strongly advocates for the territorial integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), serious accusations are being made. Milorad Dodik claims that three presidents of European countries told him that the UK had planned his liquidation.
“They told me that a UK unit of about forty soldiers had been deployed to BiH with the order, not to arrest me, but to ‘take me out’ with the story – ‘he resisted arrest,’ obviously following the mafia principle. The man is the problem, if there’s no man, there’s no problem. They haven’t given up, but they’re silent,” said Milorad Dodik.
Dodik continues accusing the West and also claims that foreigners from Brussels demanded that he step aside, but that he will not do so even if they send NATO to arrest him. He also warns the members of the SIPA not to attempt such a thing.
A statement was issued by the SIPA Union. They consider the threats to employees of this state institution with criminal prosecution or property seizure to be unacceptable. SIPA employees, the Union claims, act professionally, according to the Constitution and the Law, and in no way against the interests of any people or entity, in this case RS.
“These are professionals who, shoulder to shoulder with their colleagues from the other two constituent peoples, have for years been carrying out activities to prevent the most serious forms of crime and are ready to complete any task. In this regard, the Union appeals to all politicians, regardless of which entity they come from, regardless of what function they perform, to refrain from publicly labeling SIPA members based on their ethnic affiliation,” explained Edin Kahrimanovic, president of the SIPA Union.
Dodik claims that he moves freely and does not feel isolated, despite being suspected of the criminal offense of attacking the constitutional order and that a warrant has been issued for him. While the second-instance verdict of the Court of BiH is awaited regarding Milorad Dodik for non-compliance with the decisions of the High Representative, he faces a ban on political activity. However, the president of the entity says he has a plan. If the CEC bans him from candidacy, he will be prime minister.
“He accepts the CEC and the current Election Law, does not mention what he used to mention until recently and even publicly promised – that the republican election commission would conduct the next elections, that they would be held according to the election law of RS. Now that is very indicative and interesting, that he is accepting the rules of the game of the CEC, which could be called an optimistic story for me, but once again exposes his change of stance,” said Milan Milicevic, president of SDS.
If he is banned from political activity, will he even be able to hold any political position?
“It’s illogical for it to apply only to the function of the president, it applies to all political functions, from members of the Presidency of BiH, he cannot be in the representative legislative authority, or in the executive authority. In the reasoning of the verdict, as a consequence of the imposed ban, all prohibitions are listed so that he cannot perform any political function for the next six years,” stated Vehid Sehic, a former member of the CEC BiH.
It should be recalled that the Court of BiH at the end of February in a first-instance verdict found Dodik guilty of non-compliance with the decisions of the High Representative, and sentenced him to one year in prison and six years of ban on political activity. The defense of Milorad Dodik, who does not recognize the verdict, nor the Court and Prosecutor’s Office, has nevertheless filed an appeal. The Court of BiH is expected to decide soon on the second-instance verdict, N1 writes.
