Dodik rejects final verdict, calls for resistance against “political sentence”

Framing the process against him as an attack on the Republika Srpska (RS) entity itself, Dodik declared he remains the President of RS and ruled out the possibility of early elections.

He accused High Representative Christian Schmidt of “creating chaos in BiH” and acting under “someone’s instructions,” adding that the Court’s ruling is a “political sentence.”

“Schmidt passed a law saying people would be imprisoned for not following his decisions. If we accept this, it’s just a matter of time before others here face the same. This is an attack on RS. They want to make it about Milorad Dodik personally,” he said, refusing to recognise the criminal charge introduced by Schmidt.

Boycott of EU ambassadors and potential NSRS involvement

Dodik said that RS institutions would decide how to respond, and hinted that the matter would be brought before the RS National Assembly. “If RS is to lose its democratic right to elect its president like this, let the parliament decide. I’ll accept any decision, but not this one, which was orchestrated by EU Ambassador Sattler and Marta Kos.”

He added, “Foreigners involved in this can turn off their phones. I personally reject and urge my associates to ignore the EU and European ambassadors. We’ll consider our next moves. We are not without alternatives.”

Opposition to elections, plea to citizens

Dodik stated that there will be no new presidential elections during his term, instructing associates and police to prevent the organisation of polling stations within the RS. “They can vote outside the RS. I will continue my work until the National Assembly decides otherwise.”

He called on the public to remain calm and thanked the opposition Party of Democratic Progress (PDP) for announcing it would not participate in any elections called by the Central Election Commission. “This may be one of my last political addresses, but RS must respond because a dark threat looms over us,” he warned.

Seeking support from Serbia and Russia

Dodik said he expects full support from Serbia and will also seek backing from Russia. He declared RS is no longer committed to EU integration and warned of an “exodus” unless citizens “wake up.”

“The Growth Plan was destroyed by Democratic Action Party (SDA), not Alliance of Independent Social Democrats (SNSD), yet SNSD and RS are being punished,” he claimed.

In closing, Dodik said, “Nothing will break me. I’m still the leader of my party, and we’ll see each other again. In six years, I’ll return to politics with a new platform, but I hope there’ll be no BiH by then, at least the Court or Prosecutor’s Office.”