Kathrine Frich
He has threatened to block new elections “by force if necessary” and insists: “Surrender is not an option.”
He has threatened to block new elections “by force if necessary” and insists: “Surrender is not an option.”
Putin Ally in Europe Faces Removal From Power
Milorad Dodik, leader of the Bosnian Serbs and a long-time ally of Vladimir Putin, is facing removal from his post as president of Republika Srpska.
Bosnia’s election commission acted after a court upheld his one-year prison sentence and six-year ban from office.
“What if I refuse?”
When the decision was announced,
Dodik challenged the institutions moving against him: “What if I refuse?” Bosnia may soon find out the answer.
A Divided Country Since 1995
Bosnia and Herzegovina, created by the 1995 Dayton peace accords, is split into two entities, the Bosniak-Croat Federation and the Serb-majority Republika Srpska.
Above them sits a weak central government and a powerful foreign High Representative with broad authority to enforce peace.
Convicted for Defying the High Representative
In February, Dodik was convicted for ignoring orders from Christian Schmidt, the current High Representative.
An appeals court upheld his sentence last week. Although Dodik avoided prison by paying a fine, the law mandates removal from office for sentences over six months.
A Shock After Two Decades of Defiance
“Since 2006, Dodik has done everything he could to weaken Bosnia’s institutions and hollow out the state from within,” said British House of Lords member Arminka Helić.
She added: “I don’t think he would have expected, after all the threats and all the noise, that anyone would dare to question his position.”
Retreat or Fight?
For now, Dodik shows no sign of stepping down quietly.
He has threatened to block new elections “by force if necessary” and insists: “Surrender is not an option.”
Calls for Support From Allies
Dodik has appealed to allies in Belgrade, Moscow, and Budapest.
Moscow warned the region could “spin out of control,” while the Russian embassy in Bosnia called the decision a “historic mistake.”
Support From Orban and Serbia
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban called the case an attempt by the High Representative to remove Dodik because he “opposes the agenda of their globalist elite.”
Serbia’s foreign minister Marko Djurić described the process as a “political witch hunt” using “undemocratic methods” to defy the will of the people.
