Disputed RS PM glorifies JNA officer who detonated ammunition depot in Croatia

In a post on the social media platform X, RS Prime Minister Savo Minic described Tepic's destruction of the Barutana depot near Bjelovar as a "heroic act".

"Glory to them," wrote the Republika Srpska prime minister, dedicating the post not only to Tepic but also to JNA soldier Stojadin Mirkovic, who also died when Tepic triggered the explosion.

Tepic’s suicide attack, which caused both significant casualties and material damage to numerous buildings in a suburban area of Bjelovar, is celebrated in Serbia and Republika Srpska as an act of heroism. In Bosanska Dubica, Tepic's birthplace, 29 September is marked each year as a "day of remembrance" in his honour.

A mural of Tepic has been painted on the façade of a building in Bosanska Dubica, accompanied by the message: “Welcome to the town of Major Milan Tepic."

Minic was appointed RS Prime Minister on 2 September, following a decision by the entity’s parliament. He was nominated by Milorad Dodik, a move that has since become the focus of legal and constitutional controversy.

The core of the dispute lies in the fact that Dodik put forward Minić’s nomination on 23 August, at a time when he was no longer legally serving as President of Republika Srpska. Dodik’s mandate had officially ended earlier in August after he was convicted and sentenced to one year in prison for failing to implement decisions made by the High Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

On 18 August, the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina rejected Dodik’s appeal against a decision by the Central Election Commission to strip him of his presidential mandate. Nevertheless, he went on to sign the formal proposal nominating Minić as Prime Minister, a fact that was concealed until Monday, when a scanned copy of the document bearing Dodik’s signature was quietly published on the official website of the RS National Assembly.

"To prevent malicious claims and manipulation suggesting that someone other than Milorad Dodik was the authorised nominator of Savo Minic, we are publishing this document on the website of the RS National Assembly," stated Assembly Chairman Nenad Stevandic.

The publication of the document follows a demand from the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which is currently reviewing the legality of Minić’s appointment. The request for a constitutional review was submitted by Bosniak members of both the RS and state-level parliaments.

Given the circumstances, the Constitutional Court now has clear grounds to declare the appointment of Minic and his government unconstitutional.