SDS warns Republika Srpska faces potential €695 million arbitration loss

“After the loss of around 110 million Bosnian marks (some €55 million) in the arbitration case with the Slovenian firm ‘Viaduct,’ and the potential payment of 240 million marks (approx. €120 million) to ‘Comsar Energy,’ another case is underway in Washington against Republika Srpska, filed by Slovenia’s Elektrogospodarstvo, with claims reaching €695 million,” Bodiroga said.

He published the agreement signed on behalf of the RS Government by Energy and Mining Minister Petar Djokic. According to Articles 3 and 4 of the document, the RS Government unconditionally commits to pay any potential damages, lost profits, and interest within the timeframe set by the arbitration ruling. Conversely, if Republika Srpska were to win the case, the awarded funds would be transferred directly to the government’s account.

“This is the same scenario as with the arbitration dispute involving ‘Viaduct.’ Is this what patriotism looks like? Is this how Republika Srpska is being protected?” Bodiroga asked.

He stressed that the money in question belongs to RS citizens and could otherwise have been used to raise pensions and salaries, fund child benefits, build roads, schools, and kindergartens, or provide scholarships.

Bodiroga further argued that, in a system with genuine accountability, individuals responsible for such financial risks would face multi-year prison sentences.

This warning comes amid mounting financial pressures on Republika Srpska, where recent arbitration cases have already resulted in heavy losses and raised concerns over the sustainability of public finances.