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Dodik accepts verdict: High fine instead of prison!
Milorad Dodik accepts court verdict in Bosnia, commutes prison sentence to fine and loses presidency.
Dodik accepts verdict: High fine instead of prison!
On September 20, 2025, Milorad Dodik, the President of Republika Srpska, surprisingly recognized the verdict of the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina. How Cosmo Reportedly, Dodik paid 36,500 convertible marks (about 18,700 euros) to convert a one-year prison sentence into a fine. This shift in jurisprudence follows a long period in which Dodik dismissed the court's authority as unconstitutional and systematically refused to recognize its rulings.
In February 2025, Dodik was sentenced in the first instance to one year in prison for disregarding the decisions of the international high representative Christian Schmidt, accompanied by a six-year ban on holding office. The verdict was confirmed in the second instance in August 2025, which only increased the legal consequences.
The reason for the verdict
The court's appeals chamber found that Dodik had signed a decree affecting laws passed by the National Assembly of Republika Srpska in 2023. These laws excluded the High Representative's decisions from publication in the territory, thereby ignoring constitutional requirements. This disregard ultimately led to the indictment of Dodik and the director of the Official Gazette of Republika Srpska, Miloš Lukić, as Sarajevo Times explained.
Dodik had previously spoken out against the authority of the High Representative, thereby not only behaving unlawfully, but also violating BiH's amended penal code and ultimately being convicted. For Dodik this now means that he will not be able to hold the presidency or comparable positions in Republika Srpska for six years.
Political implications and the crisis in Bosnia
The withdrawal of Dodik's mandate was officially carried out by the Central Election Commission on August 6, 2025. This was done on the basis of the electoral law, which provides for an automatic loss of mandate if a prison sentence exceeds six months. Dragan Covic, chairman of the Croatian Democratic Community (HDZ), commented that Republika Srpska is currently without a president, which is why the position needs to be filled. An official announcement about the vacant presidential position has already been published in the Official Gazette of Republika Srpska.
The events surrounding Dodik can be seen in the midst of a worsening state crisis in Bosnia and Herzegovina. According to the Heinrich Böll Foundation The country is in its worst crisis since the 1995 Dayton Agreement. In particular, Dodik's Republika Srpska has passed laws that undermine Bosnia's sovereignty and weaken state institutions. The far-reaching political decisions, such as the establishment of its own border police by the RS, not only endanger domestic stability, but also have potential impacts on security and peace in the entire Balkan region.