VERDICT AGAINST PRESIDENT DODIK - CONTINUATION OF THE ATTACK ON SRPSKA AND ITS INSTITUTIONS

BANJALUKA, AUGUST 1 /SRNA/ - Isidora Graorac, President of the Republika Srpska Organization of Families of Captured, Fallen Soldiers and Missing Civilians, said that the Court of BiH's confirmation of the verdict against President Milorad Dodik represents a continued attack on Republika Srpska and its institutions, but stressed that the Serb people will defend Srpska peacefully and legally.

"Their goal is to decapitate and belittle Republika Srpska and its top institutions, elected in legally conducted elections. Today we are defending the will of the Serb people, and we must continue to fight. Strasbourg is our next destination, and unity, solidarity, and Republika Srpska are shared values for all Serbs," Graorac told SRNA.

She stressed that the Court of BiH is simply continuing its pressure campaign aimed at erasing Republika Srpska.

"That will not happen, because the institution of the President represents all of us, and behind us today are the bones of 24,000 soldiers who gave their lives for Republika Srpska," Graorac said.

She added that today’s verdict only confirms the belief that this is a political process and that the Court of BiH long ago strayed from the path of justice.

Graorac underlined that the Serb people will not give up on their rights and on justice, because the Dayton Peace Agreement is at stake.

The Appellate Division of the Court of BiH upheld the first-instance verdict sentencing President Dodik to one year in prison and six years of political disqualification for "non-compliance with the decisions of Christian Schmidt.