After today’s hearing, Judge Sena Uzunović no longer has any moral or other legitimate right to continue the proceedings against the President of Srpska, Milorad Dodik, and the acting director of the Official Gazette, Miloš Lukić. This is the assessment of representatives of the political and social spheres of Srpska, who once again expressed significant support for Dodik and Lukić.
Just when you think it cannot get worse, the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina proves otherwise — the latest hearing was one of the worst versions, says the Serb member of the Presidency, who considers the level of judicial nervousness, explosiveness, and many other unrelated behaviors during the trial as unacceptable.
- “I must say that we are all deeply disappointed, no matter how aware we are that this is a political process. The defense was not allowed to defend Mr. Dodik; it was simply not allowed. The level of nervousness, hysteria, and the blocking of any attempt to clear up the situation was truly unacceptable,” stated Željka Cvijanović, Serb member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
It has been proven what the representatives of Srpska have been saying for a year and a half — this is a political farce and a political trial, and every further procedure and step only leads Bosnia and Herzegovina into quicksand and uncertainty.
- “How is this not a political process when the president of the largest political party from the other entity, Bakir Izetbegović, states that Mr. Dodik will be convicted, that it’s already a done deal, and that he has received a signal for this from the international community and international actors? What is this, then? Sena was supposed to frame and legally implement her boss’s statement, but clearly, she can’t,” warned Radovan Višković, Prime Minister of Republika Srpska.
Dževad Galijašević stressed that today not only frustrations were witnessed but also unprecedented hatred demonstrated by Sena Uzunović.
He questions whether new conflicts are being orchestrated and calls on Bosniak politicians to send a clear message that such a trial must be stopped.
- “Sena Uzunović is a former officer of the so-called Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina and an assistant commander for legal affairs; she was a member of the SDA. When such a person judges the President of Srpska, the most prominent figure of the Serb people, it doesn’t only cause consequences in the courtroom, but it affects social relations, communication between these peoples, and the stability of the country. The disgrace we witnessed today — her hysterical behavior, her shouting, and screaming, which she claims she has the right to, is not granted by the Criminal Code,” Galijašević pointed out.
No one in Bosnia and Herzegovina has the authority to unilaterally enact laws or amend the constitution, Galijašević emphasizes, adding that he has never seen a trial like this before. They may lead the process, but the verdict on Dodik will be delivered by the people, says Radovan Kovačević, adding that this verdict was delivered on Sunday in the most unified way possible — a convincing victory, with Milorad Dodik in the lead.
- “What we saw is that the people of Republika Srpska stood united behind their president and sent a message to all those who wish to threaten, sanction, and judge that Milorad Dodik, as the President of Republika Srpska, is judged by his people, and his people stand by him,” said Kovačević.
- “Behind the President of Srpska, Mr. Milorad Dodik, stand the people, the Constitution of Republika Srpska, and the Dayton Peace Agreement. Republika Srpska, its president, and its institutions will emerge even stronger from this politically staged process,” stated Aleksandar Goganović, Deputy Minister of Defense in the Council of Ministers.
Once again, it was clearly stated that this process represents an insult to the free will of the citizens of Srpska and the disintegration of Bosnia and Herzegovina. If they want Bosnia and Herzegovina as they swear by it, it was said, then this process should be halted and put aside.
Source: RTRS
