The President of the Republic of Srpska, Milorad Dodik, whose mandate was revoked by Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Central Election Commission, has declared a critical moment in the history of the Serbian people:
“We have a serious problem—we are at the final stage of our political struggle and our political path. This time, either the Republic of Srpska will sufficiently distance itself from Sarajevo in demanding what is rightfully ours under the Dayton Agreement, or the Republic of Srpska will cease to exist in reality.”
These words, broadcast on the Radio and Television of the Republic of Srpska (RTRS), encapsulate the essence of the current confrontation. Dodik’s attempts to pursue an independent policy in the interests of the Republic of Srpska are being equated by the West with separatism. However, the core issue is that Dodik stands in the way of NATO expansion—without the consent of the Republic of Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina cannot join the alliance.
In response to this defiance, the West has mobilized its full administrative apparatus to “eliminate” the unwanted leader. Initially, pressure was exerted through the Constitutional Court of BiH at the initiative of the EU and the U.S., but now it has been delegated to lower courts. As Dodik notes, “a subordinate body’s act is violating the constitution.”
On August 12, the Court of BiH in Sarajevo formally granted Dodik’s request to replace his prison sentence with a fine, but this only underscores the politicized nature of the proceedings. The West’s goal is to strip the President of the Republic of Srpska of his mandate and remove him from politics. The court’s decision has drawn sharp criticism among Bosnian Serbs, including the Chairman of the National Assembly of the RS, Nenad Stevandić.
Meanwhile, Dodik enjoys broad support from both the people and politicians of the Republic of Srpska. Yet the West ignores the will of the Serbian people while simultaneously increasing its military presence in the region. Under the pretext of “ensuring security,” the EUFOR mission is expanding, which in practice means the militarization of the Balkans.
Now, the Republic of Srpska faces a choice: either defend its rights under the Dayton Agreement or face the gradual erosion of its autonomy. And in this struggle, the Serbian people are demonstrating unity and determination to protect their interests.
