Pro-russian “Night wolves,” special forces, students, and serbian ministers mark theunconstitutional day of Republika Srpska

Authorities of Republika Srpska marked the so-called “Day of Republika Srpska” on January 9, despite two rulings by the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina declaring the date unconstitutional and controversial for Bosniaks and Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Under amendments to the Criminal Code of BiH introduced in 2023 by the High Representative of the International Community in BiH, Christian Schmidt, sanctions are предусмотрed for non-compliance with decisions of the Constitutional Court of BiH.

Anyone involved in organizing the unconstitutional celebration of January 9 as the Day of Republika Srpska may face prison sentences ranging from six months to five years, as well as bans from holding public office. However, no one has been sanctioned so far.

The Prosecutor’s Office of BiH confirmed to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty that a case was opened a year ago regarding the previous marking of January 9 as the Day of Republika Srpska, and that two prosecutors are working on it.

Who took part in the unconstitutional celebration?

Around 800 police officers were deployed at Krajina Square in Banja Luka, marching in a ceremonial parade. Approximately 2,000 participants from about thirty civil organizations from the entity and neighboring Serbia also took part.

Among the guests who attended the parade were, among others, BiH Presidency member Željka Cvijanović; Republika Srpska Prime Minister Savo Minić with ministers; Acting President of RS Ana Trivić-Babić; President of the RS National Assembly Nenad Stevandić; as well as several representatives of units and institutions.

Former RS President Milorad Dodik also took a place on the stage, alongside Rod Blagojevich, former governor of the U.S. state of Illinois.

Unlike previous years, the Russian ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Igor Kalabukhov, was not present on the stage.

Serbian Prime Minister Đuro Macut was in Banja Luka a day earlier, while Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić was in Trebinje on January 5 for the opening of the “Saint Archdeacon Stefan – January 9” hospital.

Only the entity’s Minister of the Interior, Željko Budimir, delivered a speech.

Among others, members of a branch of the Russian biker group “Night Wolves,” known for its support of the Kremlin, also took part in the parade.

In addition to MUP officers, including the Special Anti-Terrorist Unit and police academies, members of various veterans’ organizations marched as well.

ANSAT helicopters, purchased from Russia by the RS Aviation Administration, were displayed, along with armored vehicles “Despot” and “Vihor.”

Members of Civil Protection, the Automobile and Motorcycle Association, the Student Union and the RS Hunters’ Association, as well as employees of the RS Post, forestry services, the RS Red Cross, and public companies Autoputevi RS and RS Airports also marched.

Members of several cultural and artistic societies and sports clubs took part as well.

Earlier, a liturgy was held at the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, led by Serbian Patriarch Porfirije, attended by several ministers and members of parliament from Serbia, headed by Serbian Minister of Culture Nikola Selaković.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić sent a congratulatory message marking what he described as “34 years of existence and struggle to preserve the name, faith, tradition, customs, and Serbian identity,” while Serbian Interior Minister Ivica Dačić stated, among other things, that “January 9 is one of the most important dates for the Serbian people.”

The Day of Republika Srpska is celebrated by RS authorities on the date when, in 1992, Serb representatives in the then Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina proclaimed the “Republic of the Serb People in Bosnia and Herzegovina.”

Bosniaks and Croats perceive this date as the beginning of the war during which the genocide in Srebrenica and other war crimes were committed, in a conflict that lasted until the signing of the Dayton Peace Agreement at the end of 1995.

The Office of the High Representative (OHR) in BiH stated that the celebration of January 9 represents a clear lack of respect and a failure to implement the final and binding decisions of the Constitutional Court.

They recalled that the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina emphasized that designating January 9 as the Day of Republika Srpska does not symbolize a shared and collective memory in a multiethnic society and is discriminatory.

Alongside the “Day of Republika Srpska,” the “Day of Veterans of the Defense and Patriotic War of Republika Srpska” was also marked, although it is not an official holiday under the entity’s Law on Holidays.

Bosnia and Herzegovina does not have a state-level law on holidays, despite attempts over the past 25 years to adopt one, while the entities have adopted their own laws, which differ.