US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the actions of the President of the Bosnian-Herzegovinian entity Republika Srpska (RS), Milorad Dodik, undermine the institutions of the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) and threaten its security and stability.
"Our government calls on political leaders in Bosnia and Herzegovina to engage in constructive and responsible dialogue. We call on our partners in the region to join us in opposing this dangerous and destabilizing behavior," Rubio wrote on the social network X.
The US Secretary of State reacted to the latest statements by Dodik, who on March 5 signed decrees declaring unconstitutional laws adopted by the RS National Assembly, which prohibit the activities of the Court and Prosecutor's Office of BiH, the Investigation and Protection Agency - SIPA BiH, and the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council (HJPC) of BiH.
On March 7, the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina issued a temporary measure and stopped the implementation of these laws.
The Court of BiH, the Prosecutor's Office of BiH, and SIPA were established based on laws adopted by the Parliamentary Assembly of BiH and confirmed by the state House of Peoples. In order to be abolished, according to the Constitution of BiH, the Parliament of BiH must declare its decision.
The Republika Srpska entity assembly adopted the laws on February 27th after the President of RS was sentenced by a first-instance verdict before the Court of BiH to a year in prison and a six-year ban on holding office.
The Prosecutor's Office of BiH announced that it has been conducting an investigation since December 2024 due to the existence of grounds for suspicion that the criminal offense of "attack on the constitutional order" has been committed.
The Criminal Code of Bosnia and Herzegovina stipulates penalties of up to five years in prison and a ban on performing official duties if someone "unlawfully attempts to change the constitutional order of BiH or to overthrow its highest institutions."
Dodik was previously convicted and found guilty of disrespecting the decisions of High Representative Christian Schmidt and signing a decree promulgating laws that Schmidt had previously annulled, which attempted to prevent the implementation of decisions of the Constitutional Court of BiH and the High Representative on the territory of the RS.
The Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina has issued a temporary measure regarding the non-application of the Law on the Special Register and Transparency of the Work of Non-Profit Organizations. The request was filed by Kemal Ademović, Deputy Speaker of the House of Peoples of the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
This law, adopted by the RS Parliament, introduces strict control over the work of the civil sector in RS, modeled after Russian law.
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