US senators and congressmen have sent a joint letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, demanding urgent action and protection of the sovereignty of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
In a letter to the US Secretary of State, they expressed concern about the recent moves of Milorad Dodik, the president of the Bosnian entity Republika Srpska, who, as stated in the letter, has attacked the constitutional order of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Dayton Peace Agreement.
US senators and congressmen have called for sanctions to be used to prevent the situation in Bosnia from deteriorating.
Among other things, they are calling for the expansion of targeted sanctions against Dodik and his aides, including additional financial restrictions and a travel ban for those who undermine the sovereignty of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
They also seek increased diplomatic engagement with Bosnia and Herzegovina, including the appointment of a special envoy for the Western Balkans to coordinate policy.
"Coordinate closely with European allies and partners to present a unified international community and position against secessionist threats, including reviewing EUFOR's readiness to address potential security threats," the letter to the US Secretary of State said.
On March 5, Milorad Dodik signed decrees declaring unconstitutional laws, adopted by the National Assembly of the Republika Srpska, 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.
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.
On March 13, the entity parliament is also expected to discuss a new draft of the RS Constitution, by which the entity's authorities plan to define RS as a state of the Serbian people, give it the right to self-determination, establish its own army, and abolish the Council of Peoples.
In their letter, US senators and congressmen state that the security, stability and economic prosperity of Bosnia and Herzegovina remain important to the United States, as well as the Western Balkans.
"Strong leadership from the United States, working in concert with our allies and partners, is essential to countering Dodik's destabilizing activities. We stand ready to support the Administration's efforts in this regard," the senators and congressmen said, pointing out that Dodik had engaged in secessionist activities for years, for which he was sanctioned during Trump's first term.
On March 12, the Prosecutor's Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina issued an order to bring Milorad Dodik in for questioning, after Dodik failed to respond to a summons from this judicial institution.
The Prosecutor's Office previously 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."
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