The President of Bosnia’s Republika Srpska (RS) entity, Milorad Dodik, announced on Sunday that he will not attend the verdict hearing at the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina, scheduled for February 26. The case involves charges against him and the acting director of the Official Gazette, Milos Lukic.

Dodik's lawyer, Goran Bubic, had previously stated that Dodik had the option to skip the verdict hearing, leaving the decision open. Dodik has now confirmed he will not be present.

“I will not go, and I don't have to. No one is obligating me to attend. The time when people were persecuted for political reasons is long gone. We will try to negotiate until exhaustion, but if that doesn't work, we have a Plan B,” Dodik said, according to RTRS.

“Republika Srpska will act in full accordance with the Constitution. Our primary goal is to defend the Constitution of Bosnia and Herzegovina, to invite the Federation of BiH to negotiate on this matter and to restore it to the Dayton Constitution. If they refuse, we will have to make decisions. In that case, Republika Srpska will declare that the Constitution of BiH has failed and that it has been dismantled by those who accept and allow laws to be passed unconstitutionally. The Constitution clearly states that only the Parliamentary Assembly has the authority to pass laws, and no one else,” Dodik stated on X.

He also addressed his supporters, urging them not to gather in front of the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina on the day of the verdict. His supporters have regularly assembled outside the court throughout the trial, expressing solidarity with him.

Instead of gathering in Sarajevo, Dodik has called on his followers to join a two-day rally in Banja Luka, organized in response to the trial.

Throughout the proceedings, Dodik has falsely portrayed the case against him as an attack on Republika Srpska, a narrative that has been criticized by opposition politicians in the entity. They have urged him to take responsibility as an individual rather than hiding behind Republika Srpska.

Additionally, opposition leaders have warned Dodik against pushing the public into conflict and have called on Republika Srpska’s citizens to avoid participating in the planned rallies.