Bosnian authorities argue small number of police officers attempting Dodik's arrest

From Bosnia and Herzegovina's State Agency for Investigation and Protection (SIPA) announced 24 April that in an attempt to arrest the president of Republika Srpska's entity (RS), Milorad Dodik has engaged “a small number of police officials in civilian clothes”, a trace is being granted. Periscope.

The agency added that this took place “aimed at reducing the risk and avoiding any possible conflict” while implementing the arrest order issued by the Bosnia and Herzegovina Court and the state prosecutor.

This is also evidence that the agency is careful not to jeopardise peace and security in Bosnia and Herzegovina”, the SIPA report said.

Members of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MPB) of Republika Srpska's entity in the hours of the evening of April 23rd have hampered the entry of SIPA members to the RS Government Administrative Centre building in eastern Sarajevo, where Dodik was located.

Dodik, along with RS Parliament Speaker Nenad Stevsa persecuted, and Prime Minister Radovan Viskovic are accused of attacking constitutional order, and a central arrest sheet has been issued in Bosnia and Herzegovina after the Bosnian Prosecutor's call to appear in interrogation.

SIPA has indicated that during the operation, its police officials have notified the MPB officers of Republika Srpska, who were facing the RS Government headquarters in eastern Sarajevo, as well as Dodik's personal security, of their intent to arrest Dodik under a judicial order, but were told Dodik's arrest would not be allowed.

They stressed that members of RS's MPB have informed SIPA colleagues that they “are taking measures and actions in line with their competencies for protecting the protected person, in accordance with RS laws”.

Because of the above reasons, the order was not realised, after what the agency police officials left the location”, the SIPA report said.

In the meantime, the response to the Bosnia and Herzegovina Court's request, which has asked INTERPOL to review the decision to reject the request for release of a red international announcement to representatives of the Republika Srpska leadership.

The International Crime Police Organisation, INTERPOL, has not issued a red international report to Milorad Dodik and Nenad Stevhausi, after the Bosnian Court asked this organisation on 27 March.

The Bosnian prosecutor had earlier requested the release of an international search warrant, arguing that Dodik and Stevha persecuted, “using their top positions in RS, avoiding border control legal procedures, crossed the state limit and left Bosnia”.

Both top officials have left Bosnia and Herzegovina and have returned to the country several times after launching the central warrant.

After a first-instance court ruling in late February, Dodik was sentenced to a one-year prison sentence and banned from dealing with politics for six years, RS authorities adopted a set of laws banning the activity of Bosnia's justice organs and state investigation into the territory of this entity. / REL