Croatian Lawyer Anto Nobilo: I'm no longer Dodik’s lawyer

“This is no longer a legal matter. What we are witnessing is a political decision by Republika Srpska to reject the authority of the Court and Prosecutor’s Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina. This is a purely political stance, leaving no room for legal arguments. We are now facing a political crisis—possibly the biggest one since the end of the war—and I believe this crisis should be resolved through serious political dialogue rather than legal repression,” Nobilo stated.

He also confirmed that he no longer serves as Dodik’s lawyer in this new situation.

“I was only involved in the initial legal proceedings. My last responsibility was to file an appeal and that is it. This situation is no longer perceived as a legal issue,” he explained.

High-risk operation

When asked what could happen if authorities attempted to arrest Milorad Dodik, Nobilo pointed to warnings from Bosnia’s security agencies.

“The Bosnian security agency has already classified this as a high-risk operation. I believe that reasonable people in Sarajevo will understand that launching such a forceful action would not be wise because it could lead to conflict. I hope that rational voices will prevail,” Nobilo said.

Republika Srpska and the Dayton Agreement

Commenting on the recent decisions made by the National Assembly of Republika Srpska (NSRS) and whether they are beyond the scope of the Dayton Peace Agreement, Nobilo did not hold back.

“Everything is outside the framework of Dayton. The current constitutional and legal situation is completely beyond what was originally agreed upon. International actors, particularly foreign embassies, have realized that while the Dayton Agreement was necessary to end the war, it also created a dysfunctional state. Now, Dodik and his allies are taking things to the extreme. They are attempting to pass a constitution that would position Republika Srpska similarly to a republic within the former Yugoslavia, meaning it would have significant state-like elements, including the right to secede. Dayton does not recognize such a possibility. Whether this move will succeed is difficult to predict,” Nobilo stated.

Croatia’s role in the crisis

Nobilo also emphasized that Croatia must take a more proactive role in resolving the crisis in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

“Croatia needs to be more engaged, but not by viewing the situation from a simplistic, black-and-white perspective. The situation is far more complex. Zagreb should delve deeper and perhaps act as a bridge, helping to calm tensions and connect opposing sides in Bosnia and Herzegovina,” he concluded.