Bosnia urges EUFOR to arrest Milorad Dodik amid escalating political crisis

Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Foreign Minister Elmedin Konakovic called on the European Union Peacekeeping Mission (EUFOR) to arrest Milorad Dodik, the president of Republika Srpska, following new entry bans imposed on Dodik by Austria and Germany.

The statement came during a joint press conference in Sarajevo with Austrian Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger, where Konakovic warned that the country’s political stability was under increasing threat.

He said the people of Bosnia fear the situation is deteriorating and accused Dodik of deliberately undermining the legal system by refusing to comply with investigations or appear in court.

EU sanctions on Dodik increase pressure

Germany and Austria announced that they had imposed entry bans on Dodik and two other senior officials from Republika Srpska (RS), citing actions that threaten the constitutional integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Germany’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs described these actions as an attempt to weaken the state and called on other EU member states to adopt similar measures.

Berlin also urged Serbia to halt support for separatist tendencies in RS and to repeal unconstitutional laws and avoid the creation of illegal parallel institutions.

During the press conference, Konakovic said Bosnia had received diplomatic assurances that additional EU countries were preparing similar sanctions against Dodik.

Diplomatic tensions rise after persona non grata declaration

Tensions escalated further after Germany’s Minister of State for Europe and Climate Affairs, Anna Luhrmann, was declared persona non grata by the Republika Srpska authorities.

Konakovic described the move as a “terrorist act and diplomatic scandal,” noting that Luhrmann is entitled to protections under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.

He called on more EU nations to take action against RS officials, stating that Dodik has been “openly provoking the system.”

Domestic arrest warrant, legal fallout

The Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina recently sentenced Dodik to one year in prison and barred him from holding political office for six years for defying decisions from the Office of the High Representative (OHR).

In response, the RS National Assembly voted to suspend the activities of several key state-level institutions within RS territory, including the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council, the Prosecutor’s Office, the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the State Investigation and Protection Agency (SIPA).

The Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina immediately annulled the RS assembly’s decisions.

Separatist agenda continues

Despite legal rulings and sanctions, Dodik has continued to push a separatist agenda.

He announced that the RS National Assembly will debate a draft constitution for Republika Srpska, which reportedly includes a provision for “the right to self-determination” and the establishment of an “RS Army.”

Following these developments, the Prosecutor’s Office issued detention orders for Dodik, RS Prime Minister Radovan Viskovic, and National Assembly President Nenad Stevandic on charges of threatening Bosnia’s constitutional order.

Domestic arrest warrants were issued after the three failed to comply with summonses.

An international arrest request was also submitted via Interpol, though no response has yet been received.

Austria and Germany reaffirm EU support

Foreign Minister Meinl-Reisinger reiterated Austria’s commitment to Bosnia’s EU membership path and stated that Dodik’s actions present a risk to both national and regional stability.

She emphasized that the sanctions reflect EU support for Bosnia and Herzegovina’s territorial integrity.

Germany’s interim Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Amelie Titel, echoed these concerns in Berlin, stating that the preservation of the Dayton Agreement and Bosnia’s sovereignty are non-negotiable for the federal government.