The final rehearsal for the event marking the "Day of Republika Srpska” on January 9, which was declared unconstitutional by Bosnia’s Constitutional Court, is underway in Istocno Sarajevo (East Sarajevo).
This year, the so-called “ceremonial parade” and the central event of this unconstitutional celebration was moved from Banja Luka to Lukavica in Istocno Sarajevo by the decision of Milorad Dodik, the president of the semi-autonomous Republika Srpska (RS) entity.
RELATED NEWS
.mxf-175x117.jpg)
The roads in the area are completely blocked, and a large number of policemen and members of the special units of the RS Interior Ministry are armed with long-barrel firearms.
On January 9, authorities in the RS entity are organising the “Day of the RS” celebration every year, despite it being declared unconstitutional by the BiH Constitutional Court. It is also seen by many as the date of the beginning of ethnic cleansing and crimes against the non-Serb population.
Posljednje pripreme u Istočnom Sarajevu za obilježavanje neustavnog "Dana RS" pic.twitter.com/VZSYeoGzcK
— TV N1 Sarajevo (@N1infoSA) January 8, 2023
Several veteran’s associations in Bosnia’s Federation (FBiH) entity announced protests in Sarajevo over the January 9 celebration, but this plan was later cancelled as it was announced that the presence of the Sarajevo Canton police would be increased.
The Association of Victims and Witnesses of Genocide demanded an immediate reaction from the international community and BiH institutions, stating that it is inappropriate to celebrate January 9 near Sarajevo, the city that was under the longest siege in modern history.
