SARAJEVO

Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Appeals Panel of the Court on Friday upheld a one-year prison sentence and a six-year ban on holding political office for Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik, confirming a February verdict that found him guilty of defying decisions of the Office of the High Representative (OHR).

The final decision opens the way for the Central Election Commission to implement the verdict, which could result in Dodik’s removal from office and the scheduling of an early presidential election within the entity.

The European Union responded to the ruling, saying it expects the verdict to be respected.

“The EU takes note of the criminal conviction in appeal of Milorad Dodik by the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The verdict is binding and must be respected. The EU calls on all parties to acknowledge the independence and impartiality of the court and to respect and uphold its verdict,” the EU spokesperson said in a statement.

Dodik, who has consistently rejected the legitimacy of High Representative Christian Schmidt, denounced the ruling as politically motivated and accused foreign actors of orchestrating it.

“This is not a legal decision; it is a political move by Sarajevo parties and their foreign sponsors aimed at eliminating Republika Srpska’s political will,” he told the media following the verdict.

He accused Schmidt of creating “chaos in Bosnia and Herzegovina” under the instructions of international actors and claimed the European Union is seeking political victories in Bosnia following failures on global issues. “They have chosen to take it out on Republika Srpska. This is the will of powerful players, not justice,” he said.

Dodik reiterated that he has committed no criminal offense under BiH law, stressing that the case stems from his refusal to recognize Schmidt’s authority. “The only reason for this verdict is that I refused to recognize Schmidt, who has no democratic mandate,” he added.

He announced that institutions of Republika Srpska will determine their stance on the verdict and that he will respect any decision of the entity’s National Assembly. However, he ruled out the possibility of early elections during his term.

“Elections will not be held while I am president and active in political life. I call on my associates to reject any attempt to organize early presidential elections. The police will ensure that no polling station is set up in Republika Srpska,” he said.

He urged citizens to remain calm and stand united, saying this is “an attack on Republika Srpska, not just on Milorad Dodik.”

The Prosecutor’s Office of BiH had earlier issued warrants for Dodik, RS Prime Minister Radovan Viskovic, and RS National Assembly Speaker Nenad Stevandic, related to a separate investigation into an “attack on constitutional order.”

The case stems from laws adopted by the RS National Assembly and signed by Dodik prohibiting the operation of state judicial and security institutions in the entity.

Although Dodik initially said he would not appeal the first-instance ruling “because he does not recognize the Court,” his legal team filed an appeal, which the Appeals Panel has now rejected.