Dodik’s Gamble: Bosnia Set to Call Bluff of Defiant Serb Leader

With a nationwide arrest warrant hanging over him, Republika Srpska president Milorad Dodik has finally overplayed his hand, experts believe.

Known for his confrontational, high-stakes approach to politics, Milorad Dodik, president of Bosnia’s Serb-led Republika Srpska entity, is also a seasoned bluffer.

The latest political crisis in Bosnia and Herzegovina stems from Republika Srpska’s response to a first-instance court verdict sentencing Dodik to one year in prison and banning him from holding the office of entity president for six years.

Rather than accepting the ruling, Dodik has escalated tensions, using familiar tactics of defiance and provocation.

Over the past two decades, he has risen through the political ranks to become the de facto most powerful politician in Bosnia. Throughout his career, he has repeatedly played risky political games – threatening secession, pushing controversial laws and stirring up unrest – all to maintain his grip on power. More often than not, he has emerged victorious, forcing his opponents to the negotiating table to secure his interests.

Now, however, with a nationwide arrest warrant hanging over him, Dodik is going all in, undermining state authority and seeking to shield himself from criminal accountability./BI/