Bosnia Removes Dodik After Court Upholds Conviction

Bosnia's electoral authorities have removed Milorad Dodik as president of Republika Srpska after a court upheld his conviction for defying rulings from the international envoy overseeing the Dayton peace accords, sentencing him to one year in prison and banning him from office for six years. Dodik, a pro-Russian separatist leader, has rejected the ruling, vowing to stay in office and calling the decision politically motivated. He has received support from the Republika Srpska parliament and allies in Serbia, Hungary, and Russia, while boosting police protection. The European Union has insisted the verdict must be respected as Bosnia pursues EU membership. Legal uncertainty surrounds enforcement, and if Dodik's appeal is unsuccessful, snap elections will be held within 90 days. The crisis highlights deep ethnic tensions and foreign influence, with Dodik's actions stalling Bosnia's EU accession.