The nationalist president of Republika Srpska (RS), the Serb entity in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Milorad Dodik, was sentenced on Wednesday, February 26, to 1 year in prison and six years of ban on political activity.
Dodik was convicted of committing the criminal offense of non-implementation of the decisions of the High Representative. Dodik did not participate in the announcement of the verdict.
This is a first instance decision that can be appealed.
Dodik was accused of signing presidential decrees, with which he declared two unconstitutional laws of Republika Srpska valid, which had previously been annulled by the High Representative.
The Prosecutor's Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina, in the final hearing on February 19, requested the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina to impose a five-year prison sentence on Dodik, and to ban him from political activity for 10 years.
In his final statements, Dodik said that " we must fight together so that Bosnia and Herzegovina is no longer a protectorate, but regains its sovereignty ."