We look up to Serbia and Russia and our people, we don't want any conflicts and we won't engage in them, said Milorad Dodik, the President of Republika Srpska, Bosnia's Serb-majority region which marks its holiday on January 9, the timing that the Constitutional Court of BiH declared unconstitutional.

On the second day of a two-day celebration, the Bosnian Serb leadership organised a parade with 3,400 participants in Banja Luka, the entity's administrative centre, including police echelons.

“We, the politicians must always know that there is someone, somewhere who gave their lives for this Republika. That's why we won't give it away,” Dodik said in the ceremony.

“Freedom is not a philosophy, it is our way of life. That's what we see today in our streets and our cities. Freedom is what we need,” Dodik said.

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Despite two court rulings, from 2015 and 2019, the authorities in Republika Srpska entity have been marking the Day of Republika Srpska on every January 9. The court ruled that the holiday was discriminatory against non-Serbs in Republika Srpska because January 9 is also a Serbian Orthodox religious holiday – the day of St Stephen, the patron saint of the entity.

Foreign embassies in Bosnia and Herzegovina, including the US and UK embassies, commented on the celebration, with the UK Embassy saying that non-compliance with the Constitutional Court decisions is potentially a “criminal offence.” The US Embassy said it expected the law enforcement and judicial authorities to investigate any violations of law regarding the celebration of the Day of the Republika Srpska on January 9.

Stano: Activities contrary to BiH Constitutional Court decisions can lead to serious consequences

Bosnian State Prosecutor's Office told N1 that this institution and law enforcement agencies are closely following the developments that might contain the elements of the criminal offence from the scope of competencies of the Prosecutor's Office.

“The Prosecutor's Office will in the upcoming period be able to declare on further activities after it analyses delivered reports and after the consultations with partner agencies as well as the Constitutional Court of BiH,” the Prosecutor's Office said.