High-ranking Serbian officials, including Prime Minister Milos Vucevic and Speaker of the Serbian Parliament Ana Brnabic, arrived in Banja Luka on Wednesday to participate in the celebration of January 9 as "Republika Srpska Day." The event commemorates the founding of Republika Srpska, despite being declared unconstitutional by Bosnia and Herzegovina's Constitutional Court on two occasions.

The program began with a wreath-laying ceremony at the Fallen Soldiers Memorial. A formal lecture is scheduled for 4 p.m., followed by a reception at the Government Administrative Center two hours later. The central commemoration will take place on Thursday, January 9.

Zeljka Cvijanovic, a Bosnia and Herzegovina's Presidency member, addressed the media, emphasizing the significance of honouring those who sacrificed for Republika Srpska's existence.

“All significant dates in Republika Srpska are marked by paying respects to war victims and the families of fallen soldiers. We express our gratitude for the freedom we enjoy today,” Cvijanovic stated, adding: “This freedom came at a high price, marked by many casualties and suffering. We now live in peace and freedom and must build Republika Srpska as a modern, democratic community where everyone feels protected and where we create better living conditions.”

Cvijanovic thanked citizens and institutions for contributing to Republika Srpska's development. “Despite numerous challenges, we persevered, thanks to the resilience of our citizens and the steadfastness of our institutions,” she said.

She also addressed criticism, asserting that “RS is often subjected to hatred but will endure.” The Presidency member urged Bosnia and Herzegovina to turn a new page, adding, “The love of the people and the commitment of our institutions will continue to safeguard Republika Srpska.”

Radovan Viskovic, Prime Minister of Republika Srpska, also addressed the media during the RS Day event.

“We began the celebration of the Republika Srpska Day by laying wreaths at the Monument to Fallen Soldiers of the Army of Republika Srpska, as they are the ones who defended our freedom and gave their lives to establish Republika Srpska,” Viskovic stated to reporters in Banja Luka following the wreath-laying ceremony at the Saint Pantelija cemetery.

He emphasized that the sacrifices of those soldiers were not in vain and vowed to ensure that their legacy was upheld. “Republika Srpska is eternal, whether some like it or not. We don’t insult anyone or send offensive messages; we just want to be respected,” Viskovic stressed.

Viskovic also reaffirmed the right of each community within Bosnia and Herzegovina to celebrate their own important dates, stating that Republika Srpska has the right to mark January 9 as its RS Day.

“Happy birthday, Republika Srpska. Republika Srpska is eternal,” Viskovic concluded.

Nenad Stevandic, Speaker of the RS National Assembly, also spoke, stressing that no one should alter the date of Republika Srpska’s founding. “We do not dictate others’ important dates or sacred symbols, and we will not allow anyone to change ours. We reject hatred and refuse to let it dictate our emotions. We remain steadfast and honour those who established Republika Srpska,” Stevandic remarked.

The celebration of January 9 has been a point of contention since Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Constitutional Court ruled it unconstitutional in 2015. The Court invalidated the date as a state holiday, citing its exclusivity. In response, the RS National Assembly removed January 9 from its Holidays Law and reestablished it as a separate secular holiday. Bosniak and Croat delegates in the RS Council of Peoples subsequently challenged the constitutionality of this new law.

In March 2019, the Constitutional Court again ruled January 9 unconstitutional, annulling parts of the RS Day legislation.

This year’s commemoration is notable for the absence of RS President Milorad Dodik, who is recovering from surgery.