“The defense of the President of Republika Srpska, Milorad Dodik, has submitted a proposal to the Court of BiH for the trial against the President and the acting director of the Official Gazette to be transferred to the Basic Court in Banja Luka,” confirmed attorney Goran Bubić for RTRS.
The defense argues that the location of the alleged actions against Milorad Dodik and Miloš Lukić, as stated in the indictment, falls under the jurisdiction of the Basic Court in Banja Luka, where both individuals reside. Additionally, out of the six witnesses proposed by the Prosecutor’s Office of BiH in the indictment, five have residences within the jurisdiction of the Basic Court in Banja Luka.
The defense of President Dodik has requested the relocation of the trial to Banja Luka due to concerns about the objectivity and impartiality of the Court of BiH.
Warning against the prejudicing of guilt and serious contamination of this case through statements by Kristijan Šmit, the ambassadors of the USA and the UK, and officials in Sarajevo, the media and the public in Sarajevo are exerting unacceptable pressure on the Court of BiH, as highlighted by the defense.
Attorney Goran Bubić also conveyed to the Court of BiH the significant reason for the trial to be moved to Banja Luka – the public dispute between Milorad Dodik and the President of the Court of BiH, Ranko Debevec.
In 2020, media reported on this under headlines such as “Debevec to sue Dodik for insult,” “Dodik is illegally wiretapping people,” and “Publish evidence of corruption or face a lawsuit.”
Based on these reports, the defense concludes that due to the apparent animosity between Dodik and Debevec, a fair trial cannot be ensured.
