BiH Court and Milorad Dodik: One Year Jail and Six Years Ban, Yet Justice Still Waits
On February 26, the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina issued a first-instance verdict sentencing Milorad Dodik to one year in prison and a six-year ban from holding the office of President of the Republika Srpska (RS). But the wait for the appellate verdict drags on, as the Court states there is no precise deadline for issuing appellate decisions.
What’s going on with the verdict?
The Court’s Appeals Council evaluates each case individually, depending on its complexity. By law, the appellate verdict must be issued within 30 days of the hearing, or judges must notify the Court president why it hasn’t been done. The hearing in Dodik’s case was held on June 12, when the Prosecutor’s Office requested a harsher sentence — multiple years in prison instead of the initial one year, and an extension of the ban on holding office beyond six years.
Miloš Lukić still in the game
The second accused, Miloš Lukić, who was acquitted in the first instance, faces the Prosecutor’s request to annul the acquittal, retry the case, or issue a guilty verdict.
Why was Dodik convicted?
Dodik was found guilty of disobeying decisions of the High Representative Christian Schmidt by signing laws that Schmidt had previously annulled. These laws attempted to block implementation of Constitutional Court and High Representative decisions in RS territory, including those related to state property registration and holidays.
RS National Assembly’s reaction
The day after the verdict, on February 27, the RS National Assembly passed laws banning the work of state police and judicial institutions in RS territory. The Constitutional Court of BiH temporarily suspended these laws on March 7.
The arrest warrants and ignoring justice
RS President Milorad Dodik, Prime Minister Radovan Višković, and National Assembly Chairman Nenad Stevandić, suspects in an attack on the constitutional order, have been issued central arrest warrants by the BiH Court. Despite the legal obligation to arrest them, they continue to perform their duties normally.
What’s next?
If the appellate verdict is guilty, an appeal to the Constitutional Court of BiH is possible on grounds of alleged human rights violations or procedural errors. If that appeal is rejected, a further appeal to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg is possible.
Conclusion
One year in prison and six years ban for Milorad Dodik sounds serious, but while justice waits for the appellate verdict, the political scene in RS looks like a parallel universe. Arrest warrants are ignored, laws are passed to block state institutions, and the BiH judiciary struggles with deadlines and pressures.
Is this justice or just a show for the public? While we wait for the next chapter in this saga, feel free to drop a comment — maybe you have a better idea how justice can be served in a country where laws are toys for political power players.
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