Accusation Against Bosnian Serb Leader for Disobeying Peace Envoy's Decisions

The Bosnian prosecutor's office stated today, Friday, that Bosnia has charged the Bosnian Serb leader, Milorad Dodik, with disobeying decisions issued by the international envoy monitoring the peace situation in the country. One legal action suspends the decisions of the Constitutional Court in Bosnia, while another ends the publication of the decisions and laws of the peace envoy in the official gazette. The prosecutor indicated that the director of the gazette, Milos Lukic, is also facing charges. He stated, "The judiciary of Bosnia and Herzegovina has charged Milorad Dodik and Milos Lukic with committing a criminal act by failing to implement the decisions of the High Representative." He confirmed that the charges have been sent to the state court for approval. For its part, Dodik's office condemned the accusation, stating to the Serbian news agency that "charges have been brought against the President of the Republic of Srpska because he followed the clear laws of the Constitution of the Republic of Srpska and did not allow anyone or anything to supersede the Constitution of the Republic of Srpska and its institutions, specifically not allowing that (supremacy) to a decision from an unappointed and illegitimate foreign (individual)." Any official in Bosnia who fails to implement a decision from the High Representative or obstructs its implementation in any way can face imprisonment ranging from six months to five years under existing laws to prevent the country from slipping back into war. Last month, the Bosnian Serb leader, who has close ties with Russia, signed two laws that were subsequently annulled by Christian Schmidt, a former German government minister, on the grounds that they contradict the Constitution of Bosnia and the terms of the peace agreement.