The verdict stands: Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Constitutional Court rejects Dodik’s appeal

With this decision, the Constitutional Court confirmed the validity of the verdict and confirmed Milorad Dodik’s responsibility for disregarding the decisions of the High Representative

The Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina has rejected the appeal of Milorad Dodik, President of the Republika Srpska, and confirmed the final judgment of the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which sentenced him to one year in prison and banned him from holding public office for failing to comply with the decisions of High Representative Christian Schmidt.

The court considered the appeal filed by Dodik’s defense against the judgment of the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina dated June 12, 2025. The decision states that there was no violation of the right to a fair trial or of the European Convention on Human Rights. This confirmed the legality of the proceedings in which Dodik was found guilty.

What did the Constitutional Court decide?

The main appeal was dismissed as unfounded.

The part of the appeal relating to statements made by public officials during the trial was dismissed as inadmissible.

The challenge to the decisions of the Central Election Commission (CEC) and the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina on the termination of the mandate was dismissed because it did not constitute a violation of civil rights or a criminal complaint within the meaning of Article 6 of the European Convention.

The Constitutional Court confirmed that the CEC had acted in accordance with its official duties after the judgment became final and that it had merely established the termination of the mandate of the President of the RS.

The court also found that there were no grounds for the temporary measure of suspending the execution of the judgment, which Dodik had requested, while the proceedings were still ongoing.

What happens next?

Dodik had previously bought out his prison sentence, but is challenging the ban on political activity. Following this decision, his defense team may refer the case to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg.

If the judgment were overturned, it would raise a legal dilemma about the legitimacy of the High Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which was a key point in Dodik’s appeal.

With this decision, the Constitutional Court confirmed the validity of the judgment and confirmed Milorad Dodik’s responsibility for disregarding the decisions of the High Representative./Oslobodjenje.ba/