President of Republika Srpska (RS) Milorad Dodik has confirmed he will not appeal his conviction by the Sarajevo-based Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) and will not attend a scheduled court session next week.
In February, the Court of BiH sentenced Dodik to one year in prison and banned him from holding political office for six years. The charges stem from his refusal to comply with decisions issued by Christian Schmidt, the international High Representative responsible for overseeing the peace agreement that ended Bosnia’s 1992–1995 war: the Dayton Agreement. Dodik disputes the legitimacy of Schmidt’s mandate, asserting it is inconsistent with the Agreement.
Following the verdict, the RS parliament issued a declaration aimed at limiting the authority of central state’s institutions within the Serb-majority constitutive entity, including judicial and security bodies. These measures were temporarily suspended by the BiH Constitutional Court.
In March, authorities issued an arrest warrant, but attempts to detain him have so far failed. An April effort by the state security agency was reportedly halted following coordination with RS police.
Despite ongoing legal proceedings, Dodik has continued to travel internationally, including recent visits to Serbia, Israel, and Russia. In response to the rising tensions, EUFOR has increased its presence in the country, while NATO reaffirmed its support for Bosnia’s territorial integrity and post-war stability.