KOVAČEVIĆ: TIME FOR JUSTICE IS FINALLY COMING FOR REPUBLIKA SRPSKA

BANJA LUKA, SEPTEMBER 10 /SRNA/ — Radovan Kovačević, the Serb delegate from Republika Srpska in the House of Peoples of the BiH Parliamentary Assembly, said that the time for justice was finally coming for Republika Srpska and called on Washington to hold accountable all those involved in the shameful, undemocratic, unjust and unconstitutional prosecution of Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik.

"The time for justice is finally coming for Republika Srpska," Kovačević told the Daily Caller News Foundation, commenting on a letter sent to the US Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control /OFAC/ by US Congresswoman Celeste Maloy, who called for an investigation into the alleged interference of Christian Schmidt and the Central Election Commission /CEC/ of BiH in the democratic process in Republika Srpska.

Kovačević stressed Schmidt had improperly amended the Criminal Code of BiH, which was then used to prosecute Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik and subsequently remove him from the office to which he had been elected by the people of Republika Srpska.

He rejected the legal basis of the proceedings before the Court of BiH and said Schmidt and the Central Election Commission had interfered in the electoral and democratic process in Republika Srpska.

Kovačević said Washington should hold accountable all those involved in the removal of Republika Srpska's legitimately elected president.

"Christian Schmidt first and foremost, followed by members of the CEC of BiH, but also the prosecutors and judges, and everyone else who participated in the shameful, undemocratic, unjust and unconstitutional criminal prosecution of the President of Republika Srpska Milorad Dodik," Kovačević emphasized.

Kovačević called for the annulment of decisions imposed by Schmidt, saying this was necessary to restore the constitutional order in BiH.

He praised the direction of US politics under President Donald Trump, saying the Trump administration had helped Schmidt leave a position for which he had never received a mandate.

"We believe that the administration of President Trump has already taken certain positive steps and has contributed significantly to and helped force Christian Schmidt to leave BiH. And what is equally important is this: Republika Srpska needs freedom," Kovačević said.

In an interview with the Daily Caller in May, Dodik described BiH as an "impossible country" and directly called on Trump to support an independent Republika Srpska.

"We are a people who need our freedom. And we deserve our freedom," Dodik said at the time.

Dodik stated that Trump's support for Republika Srpska's independence would be a "great, historical act" and would make him "one of the most prominent figures in Serbian history".

The Daily Caller reminds that President Dodik met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on May 9 during celebrations marking Victory Day over fascism in World War II, which were also attended by a Republika Srpska delegation.

The media outlet noted that during the meeting with Putin, Dodik said Schmidt was illegitimate and that his decisions should be declared null and void. Putin said during the meeting that Russia remained committed to continued cooperation with Republika Srpska.

The US State Department reiterated that the United States supports the Dayton Peace Accords and the territorial integrity of BiH, and that Washington continues to use diplomatic means to support stability in BiH and oppose actions that undermine it.

Sanctions on Dodik that the United States imposed in 2017, were expanded in 2022. The Trump administration later lifted sanctions against Dodik and a number of other officials and individuals connected with Republika Srpska.