The State Department respects the ruling of the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the case of Milorad Dodik, President of the Republika Srpska entity, it was published on the "X" network, at the behest of spokeswoman Tami Bruce.
Dodik was sentenced to one year in prison and a six-year ban on holding office in the first instance. He was tried for disrespecting the decisions of the High Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
On the official "X" account, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce wrote that the United States has been investing in a stable Bosnia and Herzegovina for decades and opposes any actions by local leaders that would undermine security.
"We support Dayton and the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina," the State Department said in a statement.
On February 26, the Court of BiH handed down a first-instance verdict against Milorad Dodik, sentencing him to one year in prison, as well as a security measure of banning him from holding the office of President of Republika Srpska (RS) for six years, from the date the verdict became final.
Acting director of the Official Gazette of the Republika Srpska, Miloš Lukić, was acquitted of charges.
This is a first-instance verdict that can be appealed.
Both were accused of disrespecting decisions by the international community's high representative, Christian Schmidt.
Ahead of the verdict, the RS leadership threatened to make "radical decisions" and abandon all BiH institutions if Dodik was convicted.
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