Latest news with #BosnianProsecutor'sOffice
Al Jazeera
12-03-2025
- Politics
- Al Jazeera
Bosnia orders police to bring in Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik
The Bosnian Prosecutor's Office has ordered police to arrest Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik and two of his aides for what it called an attack on the constitutional order. The decision taken on Wednesday comes after Dodik, along with Prime Minister Radovan Viskovic and Parliament Speaker Nenad Stevandic, failed to answer two summons for questioning. It also follows a separate case in which Dodik was sentenced to a year in jail and banned from public office for defying the rulings of Christian Schmidt, the international envoy charged with overseeing the peace accords that ended Bosnia's war in the 1990s. Lawmakers are investigating Dodik, the nationalist president of Bosnia's Serb-majority entity, Republika Srpska (RS), for barring the state judiciary and police from the region following his sentencing. These laws were later struck down by Bosnia's top court. Russian-backed Dodik has repeatedly said he does not recognise the Bosnian prosecution office and would not go to Bosnia's capital, Sarajevo, for questioning. Prosecutors have sought the help of Bosnia's State Investigation and Protection Agency in the arrest. It was not clear if the plan was to detain Dodik or to accompany him to answer the summons. In Banja Luka, the northwestern town that is the seat of the Republika Srpska, reports said police had deployed around the parliament building ahead of a session. Tensions building Separately on Wednesday, the RS assembly debated a new draft constitution that would advance the separation process by creating an army and allowing the entity to join a union with neighbouring countries. Dodik's moves, which have been criticised by the United States and the European Union, are seen as part of escalating efforts to break the RS territory away from Bosnia and Herzegovina. RS is one of two regions created under the US-brokered Dayton Peace Agreement to end the 1992-1995 war that killed more than 100,000 people. The other region is the Federation entity, where most Bosniaks and Croats live. The two are linked by a fragile central government in a state supervised by an international authority to stop it from slipping back into conflict. Earlier this week, NATO chief Mark Rutte flew to Sarajevo seeking to bolster support for the country's embattled government, saying the alliance will not allow a 'security vacuum to emerge'.
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Bosnia prosecutor seeks detention of separatist Serb leaders amid mounting tensions
SARAJEVO, Bosnia-Herzegovina (AP) — Bosnian prosecutors on Wednesday ordered the detention of three top Bosnian Serb officials over a series of separatist actions in recent weeks that have heightened tensions in the Balkan country. The Bosnian Prosecutor's Office issued the order after Bosnian Serb President Milorad Dodik, Prime Minister Radovan Viskovic and Parliament Speaker Nenad Stevandic failed to answer two summons for questioning. The three are suspected of violating Bosnia's constitutional order with their policies, Bosnian media reported. See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. Last month Bosnian Serb lawmakers passed a set of disputed laws that barred the central Bosnian state judiciary and police from operating in the Serb-controlled part of the country, called Republika Srpska. The lawmakers passed the laws after a Bosnian court convicted Dodik of disobeying orders from the top international official in Bosnia. The court sentenced him to a year in prison and banned him from public office. Dodik has repeatedly said he does not recognize the Bosnian prosecution office and would not go to Sarajevo for questioning. The recent Bosnian Serb moves are seen as part of escalating efforts to break the territory away from Bosnia and have been condemned by the United States and the European Union. Dodik, who has faced U.S. and Bristish sanctions, is backed by Moscow. The assembly of Republika Srpska on Wednesday debated a new draft constitution that would advance the separation process even further by creating an army and allowing the entity to join a union with neighboring countries. It was not immediately clear what would happen next. Bosnia's state security agency known as SIPA has confirmed they were asked to assist in the detention of the three officials. In Banja Luka, the northwestern town that is the seat of the Bosnian Serb government, police could be seen deployed around the parliament building ahead of a session. The latest tensions have raised fears of violent incidents between Bosnia's central security forces and the Serb police. They also recall separatist aspirations that sparked Bosnia's war in 1992. The conflict ended three years later in a U.S.-sponsored peace accord that created two administrations — one Bosnian Serb, the other Bosniak-Croat — that are tied together by joint central institutions. During a visit this week to Bosnia, NATO's Secretary General Mark Rutte pledged the Western military Alliance's support for Bosnia's integrity while a European peacekeeping force in Bosnia, EUFOR, stepped up the number of its troops.
Washington Post
12-03-2025
- Politics
- Washington Post
Bosnia prosecutor seeks detention of separatist Serb leaders amid mounting tensions
SARAJEVO, Bosnia-Herzegovina — Bosnian prosecutors on Wednesday ordered the detention of three top Bosnian Serb officials over a series of separatist actions in recent weeks that have heightened tensions in the Balkan country. The Bosnian Prosecutor's Office issued the order after Bosnian Serb President Milorad Dodik, Prime Minister Radovan Viskovic and Parliament Speaker Nenad Stevandic failed to answer two summons for questioning.
The Independent
12-03-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Bosnia prosecutor seeks detention of separatist Serb leaders amid mounting tensions
Bosnian prosecutors on Wednesday ordered the detention of three top Bosnian Serb officials over a series of separatist actions in recent weeks that have heightened tensions in the Balkan country. The Bosnian Prosecutor's Office issued the order after Bosnian Serb President Milorad Dodik, Prime Minister Radovan Viskovic and Parliament Speaker Nenad Stevandic failed to answer two summons for questioning. The three are suspected of violating Bosnia's constitutional order with their policies, Bosnian media reported. Last month Bosnian Serb lawmakers passed a set of disputed laws that barred the central Bosnian state judiciary and police from operating in the Serb-controlled part of the country, called Republika Srpska. The lawmakers passed the laws after a Bosnian court convicted Dodik of disobeying orders from the top international official in Bosnia. The court sentenced him to a year in prison and banned him from public office. Dodik has repeatedly said he does not recognize the Bosnian prosecution office and would not go to Sarajevo for questioning. The recent Bosnian Serb moves are seen as part of escalating efforts to break the territory away from Bosnia and have been condemned by the United States and the European Union. Dodik, who has faced U.S. and Bristish sanctions, is backed by Moscow. The assembly of Republika Srpska on Wednesday debated a new draft constitution that would advance the separation process even further by creating an army and allowing the entity to join a union with neighboring countries. It was not immediately clear what would happen next. Bosnia's state security agency known as SIPA has confirmed they were asked to assist in the detention of the three officials. In Banja Luka, the northwestern town that is the seat of the Bosnian Serb government, police could be seen deployed around the parliament building ahead of a session. The latest tensions have raised fears of violent incidents between Bosnia's central security forces and the Serb police. They also recall separatist aspirations that sparked Bosnia's war in 1992. The conflict ended three years later in a U.S.-sponsored peace accord that created two administrations — one Bosnian Serb, the other Bosniak-Croat — that are tied together by joint central institutions. During a visit this week to Bosnia, NATO's Secretary General Mark Rutte pledged the Western military Alliance's support for Bosnia's integrity while a European peacekeeping force in Bosnia, EUFOR, stepped up the number of its troops.
Associated Press
12-03-2025
- Politics
- Associated Press
Bosnia prosecutor seeks detention of separatist Serb leaders amid mounting tensions
SARAJEVO, Bosnia-Herzegovina (AP) — Bosnian prosecutors on Wednesday ordered the detention of three top Bosnian Serb officials over a series of separatist actions in recent weeks that have heightened tensions in the Balkan country. The Bosnian Prosecutor's Office issued the order after Bosnian Serb President Milorad Dodik, Prime Minister Radovan Viskovic and Parliament Speaker Nenad Stevandic failed to answer two summons for questioning. The three are suspected of violating Bosnia's constitutional order with their policies, Bosnian media reported. Last month Bosnian Serb lawmakers passed a set of disputed laws that barred the central Bosnian state judiciary and police from operating in the Serb-controlled part of the country, called Republika Srpska. The lawmakers passed the laws after a Bosnian court convicted Dodik of disobeying orders from the top international official in Bosnia. The court sentenced him to a year in prison and banned him from public office. Dodik has repeatedly said he does not recognize the Bosnian prosecution office and would not go to Sarajevo for questioning. The recent Bosnian Serb moves are seen as part of escalating efforts to break the territory away from Bosnia and have been condemned by the United States and the European Union. Dodik, who has faced U.S. and Bristish sanctions, is backed by Moscow. The assembly of Republika Srpska on Wednesday debated a new draft constitution that would advance the separation process even further by creating an army and allowing the entity to join a union with neighboring countries. It was not immediately clear what would happen next. Bosnia's state security agency known as SIPA has confirmed they were asked to assist in the detention of the three officials. In Banja Luka, the northwestern town that is the seat of the Bosnian Serb government, police could be seen deployed around the parliament building ahead of a session. The latest tensions have raised fears of violent incidents between Bosnia's central security forces and the Serb police. They also recall separatist aspirations that sparked Bosnia's war in 1992. The conflict ended three years later in a U.S.-sponsored peace accord that created two administrations — one Bosnian Serb, the other Bosniak-Croat — that are tied together by joint central institutions.
