The Russian Foreign Ministry called the verdict of the leader of the Republika Srpska Dodik antidemocratic.

Russia is disappointed with the decision of the appeals board of the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), which confirmed the verdict of the head of the Republika Srpska (RS, an entity within Bosnia and Herzegovina). Milorad Dodik about a year in prison and a ban on political activity for six years. This was announced on August 5 by the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova.

"We have repeatedly noted that the criminal prosecution of the legitimately elected head of the Serbian entity of BiH <... It is aimed solely at removing from the political scene an undesirable leader who consistently opposes Western neocolonialism," Zakharova said in a statement posted on the Foreign Ministry's website.

Zakharova called the appeal commission's decision "unjustified" and "anti—democratic," and the verdict against Dodik "absurd." She added that the actions of the UN High Representative in BiH, Christian Schmidt, for non-compliance with whose decisions Dodik was convicted, contradict the democratic principles of legality and the rule of law, as well as damage the legal and political system of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

"We strongly support the legitimate authorities of Republika Srpska, whose efforts are aimed at protecting their constitutional status... The Russian Federation intends to use the political means at its disposal to prevent an increase in tension in Bosnia and Herzegovina provoked by the West," Zakharova said.

The official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry also called for the restoration of mutual understanding and cooperation between the peoples of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Dodik is not free: Bosnia decided to detain the head of Republika Srpska

A new conflict may flare up in the Balkans

On February 26, the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) sentenced the President of Republika Srpska, Milorad Dodik, to a year in prison in absentia in the case of non-compliance with the decisions of the UN High Representative in BiH, Christian Schmidt. In addition, he was banned from political activities for six years. Dodik himself did not appear in the courtroom. On March 12, the Prosecutor's Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) decided to detain Dodik. On April 23, employees of the State Investigation and Security Agency tried to carry it out in East Sarajevo in the RS, but employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the entity prevented it.

On August 1, Dodik turned to Russia, Serbia and the United States for help after the Appeals Chamber of the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) upheld his sentence. The head of the RS added that the institutions of the entity will determine their own attitude to this verdict. He noted that he would accept any decision of the parliament, but did not agree with the verdict.

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