Charge against Dodik charged with insulting Bosniaks

Stojanovic said, in a Facebook post, that Dodik made statements during public presentations, which offends the dignity of Bosniaks and “denied the right to religion and culture, and fundamental freedoms, guaranteed by the Constitution and international law”.

Speaking to reporters on April 29th, after a meeting of the ruling coalition in Republika Srpska, Dodik presented the paper that the solution for Bosnia and Herzegovina is for Bosnia and Herzegovina “to return to the religion of their ancestors, so that Bosnia and Herzegovina will be Serb majority”.

Denying the identity of Bosnians, he insulted them, calling them “converting”, following Periscope.

Stojanovic stressed that he has a <x0 institutional and moral obligation to react when the foundations of the state are threatened with equality, security and dignity of its citizens”.

The matter in the face of hate language is not an option. Bosnia and Herzegovina is a state of all people and its citizens. Its foundations are on the fight against Fascism, on freedom and equality. It is patriotism to protect the dignity of every human being and to defend the values this country is based on, he stressed.

Dodik's office earlier has not responded to Radio Europe's free question about why Republika Srpska's president makes offensive remarks to Bosniaks, and if he believes they constitute hate speech.

Bosnia and Herzegovina's Criminal Code articles prohibit “public inciting and promoting national, racial or religious hatred”, and predict prison sentences.

Dodik is being sought by the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina and by Bosnia and Herzegovina's Prosecutor's Office, because he is refusing to answer for questioning “attacks on the country's constitutional order”.

The arrest has also been issued for Republika Srpska Assembly Speaker Nenad Stevsa, and the entity prime minister Radovan Viskovic, who has also allegedly committed the same crime. /REL/