The decision of the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) to reject the appeal of Milorad Dodik and confirm the legitimacy of the High Representative in BiH, Christian Schmidt, was expected by many. On the other hand, it seems that Dodik, despite the verdict of the Court of BiH, believed in a somewhat different scenario. Nevertheless, he claims he is not disappointed but announces that he will seek justice in Strasbourg.
The Constitutional Court has given the final decision regarding the court case involving the former president of Republika Srpska (RS). The request – to annul the verdict of the Court of BiH by which Dodik was found guilty – is rejected. Some politicians from BiH, including even Dodik’s former coalition partners, see in this the final end of Milorad Dodik’s policy.
“He recognized the institutions of BiH and the High Representative Christian Schmidt, and accepted all the conditions that brought him only personal benefits, such as the lifting of sanctions against him, his family, and his associates,” said the president of NIP, Elmedin Konakovic.
“Today we have a different political environment, we have a different role of Dodik in the politics of BiH. How that will ultimately end regarding SNSD, I neither wish to participate in nor to prejudge, nor to interpret court decisions, but as far as I am concerned, the decision of the Constitutional Court was completely expected,” said Ilija Cvitanovic (HDZ 1990).
Although he said that the decision did not surprise him, Milorad Dodik nevertheless addressed the public to express his position on the decision itself. He also had a message for those who believe that the verdict marks the end of a certain policy.
“We will continue the struggle with our policies; our policies are not lost, they are very stable. Everything that we said were our political goals will be part of our orientation in the future as well,” said Dodik.
For legal experts, there is no dilemma – human rights and freedoms were not violated.
“I would not really comment on the decisions of the Constitutional Court of BiH, but I think that, in a way, they are in line with what the Constitutional Court has previously decided regarding the competences of the High Representative. I am glad that the judiciary, through this case as well, showed, as we said back in March, that there are no untouchables,” said the president of the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council (HJPC) of BiH, Sanin Bogunic.
“We should say that this case, as a criminal case, as a legal matter, has been finally concluded and that the Constitutional Court of BiH confirmed that in this case human rights and freedoms were not violated,” emphasized legal expert Milos Davidovic.
After the decision of the Constitutional Court of BiH, all doubts were removed about whether, on November 23rd, by the decision of the Central Election Commission (CEC), early elections for the president of the RS will be held.
