COURT RULING STEMS FROM ILLEGAL CEC MEASURE

BANJA LUKA, August 18 /SRNA/ - Former President of the Central Election Commission /CEC/ of BiH Branko Petrić told SRNA that the Court of BiH ruling stems from an unlawful CEC decision, since CEC member Vanja Bjelica Prutina should have been excluded from voting on the revocation of the mandate of the President of Republika Srpska, as she is engaged in another dispute with the President of Srpska.

"Had Prutina acted in accordance with the law and recused herself, six CEC members would still have constituted a quorum and could have made a decision. Her vote was not decisive," Petrić emphasized.

Regarding the request by the defense of the Republika Srpska President for a temporary measure filed with the BiH Constitutional Court, seeking a suspension of the ruling's execution, Petrić recalled that in some previous cases such decisions were rendered the same day, whereas now the decision is being delayed.

"One should draw a parallel with last year, when the CEC and the Court of BiH definitively rejected the SDS's certification to participate in the elections. On appeal and with a request for a temporary measure, the Constitutional Court, the same day, through its President Seada Palavrić accepted the temporary measure, issued a ruling, and ordered the CEC to certify participation in the elections. The current claim that such a decision cannot be reached in time is nothing but politicking," Petrić stressed.

The Appellate Division of the unconstitutional Court of BiH earlier today rejected the appeal of the legal team of Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik against the CEC BiH decision to revoke his mandate.

At its August 6 session, the CEC BiH decided to terminate Dodik's mandate due to non-compliance with the orders of illegitimate Christian Schmidt.

On August 12, Goran Bubić, attorney for President Dodik, filed an appeal to the Court of BiH against the CEC decision on behalf of the legal team, acting as his legal representative.

Bubić stressed that in this case criminal law, and consequently the CEC decision, are being used as instruments of political pressure.