Milorad Dodik, the President of Bosnia's Republika Srpska entity, called on competent bodies to reconsider the options so that the activities planned by the Bosnian Pride March, the organisers of the first pride parade in Sarajevo, are banned in Banja Luka, the entity's administration centre.

Following a meeting with the coalition partners on Thursday, Dodik said he objects the idea.

“I expect the Republika Srpska bodies to disable any such event either in open or closed area,” he said.

Asked how would such events disturb anyone, Dodik replied:

“Based on our own freedoms. Because they disturb the others.”

Dodik earlier tweeted that he was contacted by many associaitons and organisaitons over the past few day, who expressed concern about the activities announced for March 18 in Banja Luka.

“I am against that and I expect the Republika Srpska bodies will act in line with its competencies to disable such events,” he underlined.

Activists representing the Bosnian Pride Parade have announced an event in solidarity to all activists, journalists, and LGBTIQ people of Banja Luka, Republika Srpska entity, and the whole of Bosnia and Herzegovina.