Europe Asia News

The Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina removed Dodik from his post after finding him guilty of defying the decisions of the High Representative.

Dodik was sentenced to one year in prison, a sentence that was converted into a fine, and he received a six-year ban on political activity. The case triggered a months-long political crisis in the country, regarded as the worst since the end of the war in the former Yugoslav Republic in 1995.

Dodik, who supports the ruling SNSD’s candidate Siniša Karan, said at a rally in Karan’s support: “The will of the people is the most important thing.”

He also criticized the state-level government in Sarajevo, saying that it seeks to “tear down” the Serb-majority structure.

Dodik added: “We are defending the freedom of Republika Srpska, preserving its dignity; we are the ones who are building Republika Srpska and will not allow investments to stop. We are the guarantors of the stability and security of every family in Republika Srpska.”

Branko Blanuša, the opposition candidate from the Serb Democratic Party (SDS), has focused his campaign on corruption issues. “I can look every citizen of Republika Srpska in the eye, regardless of their faith or nationality,” Blanuša said.