ŠPIRIĆ: JUDGMENT AGAINST DODIK - DENIAL OF DEMOCRACY AND ITS PRINCIPLES, BUT THE FINAL WORD BELONGS TO THE PEOPLE

SARAJEVO, AUGUST 2 /SRNA/ – Speaker of the House of Peoples of the BiH Parliamentary Assembly, Nikola Špirić, states that the shameful judgment by the Appellate Panel of the Court of BiH represents a continuation of the political persecution of Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik and a fundamental negation of democracy and its principles.

"I am certain that hatred and the persecution of Dodik will not open new pages of love for BiH," Špirić told SRNA.

If the situation in BiH is to be stabilized, Špirić says, the electoral legitimacy and the will of the people must be respected, as the people are the only ones who grant legitimacy to those they wish to represent them.

"That is how it will be in Republika Srpska – the final word belongs to the people," Špirić emphasized.

He has expressed confidence that the Republika Srpska institutions will have a clear and sustainable response to this as well.

"This judgment has given BiH the status of an unwanted child," Špirić concluded.

The Appellate Division of the Court of BiH has upheld the first-instance judgment sentencing Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik to one year in prison and a six-year ban from political activity for "non-compliance with the decisions of Christian Schmidt."