Dodik announced his refusal to participate in the presidential elections of RS BiH

The President of Republika Srpska, an entity within Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), Milorad Dodik, announced that he and members of his ruling Union of Independent Social Democrats party would not participate in the presidential elections of Republika Srpska on November 23. This was reported on August 28 by Radio and Television of Republika Srpska.

"The SNSD will not participate in the elections. Elections are not the true aspiration or demand of Republika Srpska. No one is demanding elections, and this is imposed by political Sarajevo," Dodik said.

He added that these elections don't make sense.

Crisis motivation: Dodik's removal may trigger conflict in Bosnia and Herzegovina

The head of the Serbian entity was stripped of his position under pressure from the West

Earlier in the day, the Central Election Commission (CEC) of Bosnia and Herzegovina scheduled early presidential elections for Republika Srpska on November 23. The authorities intend to allocate 6.46 million convertible marks (about €3.2 million) for the organization and conduct of the elections.

On August 6, the CEC of BiH adopted a unanimous decision to revoke the mandate of RS President Milorad Dodik and call early elections. The Bosnian authorities decided to revoke the mandate after the decision of the Court of Appeal, which upheld Dodik's February sentence.

On February 26, Dodik was sentenced to a year in prison and deprived of his right to hold public office for six years. In March, the BiH prosecutor's office decided to detain Dodik. On August 12, the BiH Court granted Dodik's defense's request for a fine to be commuted to imprisonment.

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