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Bosnia initiates probe against Serb politicians in Republika Srpska entity

Recent set of steps taken by Bosnian Serb parliament violates Dayton Peace Agreement, says Prosecutor's Office

Talha Ozturk  | 20.12.2021 - Update : 20.12.2021
Bosnia initiates probe against Serb politicians in Republika Srpska entity

BELGRADE, Serbia

Prosecutors in Bosnia and Herzegovina on Monday launched an inquiry against politicians of Republika Srpska, weeks after its Serb legislator threatened to leave the federation if the government resolve the country's mounting political challenges.

The provocative statement on the agenda of the Prosecutor's Office was made by the Serb member of the country's Presidential Council, Milorad Dodik, who told lawmakers of Republika Srpska that the breakup of Bosnia and Herzegovina would be "inevitable" if "we cannot overcome the difficult situations we are in."

Speaking during an extraordinary session of the entity's National Assembly on Dec. 11 in Banja Luka, its administrative capital, Dodik declared that in such a scenario, Republika Srpska would "leave the country."

During the session, it was decided to draft a new Constitution, with Banja Luka proposed to become the capital of Republika Srpska.

In addition, within six months, the government of Republika Srpska must create legislation and regulations governing the security, defense, tax administration, and judicial system.

The embassies of the US, UK, France, Germany, and Italy in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as the EU representation, strongly condemned the decision and called on the assembly to reverse course.

In Monday's statement, the Prosecutor's Office said the extraordinary session on the "transfer of common institutions" was an attack on the constitutional order and the Dayton Peace Agreement, which ended the 1992-95 Bosnian war.

"The inquiry has been launched against many Serb politicians, especially Milorad Dodik and Republika Srpska Entity Head Zeljka Cvijanovic," it added.

Goran Selak, the head of the Serb Socialist Party, was first questioned as part of the probe early on Monday morning, according to the office.

Political dispute in Bosnia-Herzegovina

Bosnia-Herzegovina is currently embroiled in a political conflict between Bosniaks and Serbs living in the country.

The dispute erupted after Valentin Inzko, the former high representative for Bosnia-Herzegovina, amended the criminal code in July to ban the denial of genocide and the glorification of war criminals.

In response, Bosnian Serb lawmakers said they would boycott the country's institutions.

Dodik denounced the amendments and pushed for the controversial moves in the Republika Srpska parliament.

The Serb politician, who denied all legal changes enacted by the Office of the High Representative, pledged to take drastic measures in the army, judiciary and tax systems if the Dayton Agreement did not return in its entirety.

He also contributed to passing a bill in October through the Republika Srpska assembly that transferred the powers of the nationally authorized Bosnia-Herzegovina Pharmaceuticals and Medical Equipment Agency to a new institution established within Republika Srpska, which was criticized for potentially undermining the country's Constitution.

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