Dodik found guilty, sentenced to one year in prison and six years of political ban

The President of the Bosnian entity Republika Srpska, Milorad Dodik, has been sentenced to one year in prison and a six-year ban on political activity.

Dodik was found guilty before the Court of BiH.

Dodik is accused of signing presidential decrees declaring two unconstitutional laws of the RS, which the High Representative had previously annulled, valid. These are the laws on the non-implementation of decisions of the Constitutional Court of BiH and the non-implementation of decisions of the High Representative on the territory of the RS.

The verdict is a first-instance verdict and there is a possibility of appeal to the Appellate Chamber of the Court of BiH.

The Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina makes decisions based on the law and evidence, not on external pressure, as such an attempt would represent an attack on the independent position of the Court, the judicial institution announced.

"Therefore, the Court acts exclusively in accordance with legal provisions, protecting the rule of law, the impartiality of the Court and the work of the judiciary," it was announced.

They add that the criminal proceedings against Dodik related to an individual, "not to a position or institution."

"Although the circumstances in which the trial in the case of Milorad Dodik et al. was conducted were very demanding, in which the Court was faced with significant pressure from the public and political actors, the Court's ultimate goal was to act in accordance with the law and to respect the principles of justice and the independence of the judicial system," the statement said.

They added that the Court of BiH is committed, as always, to "act according to the highest standards, respecting all procedural and human rights."