Through the trial against President Milorad Dodik, both law and justice have been degraded. It was expected that the verdict would not be an acquittal, because the process was launched with the goal of securing a conviction — that was evident from day one. That is why the fears expressed by regional officials are justified, said Mladen Ilić, a member of the National Assembly of Republika Srpska, in RTRS’s Morning Program.
“We have lost all hope that someone reasonable will step forward to calm tensions and start discussing other topics. This verdict is plunging Bosnia and Herzegovina into a serious crisis that will affect the entire region. The concern expressed by Aleksandar Vučić and Viktor Orbán is fully justified. They are familiar with political dynamics and understand that this could lead to significant destabilization in the region. Whatever happens next will impact Serbia as well—and beyond,” Ilić emphasized.
He added that the crisis is deeper than anything seen in a long time, with no resolution in sight. He noted that today’s session of the SNSD Main Board in Banja Luka will bring certain conclusions. He reiterated that this is not a trial of one individual, but of an institution.
“Dodik was not tried as a private individual who committed a crime, but as the president. That should serve as a warning for future generations, because the real question is what comes next—when such power and force have been demonstrated over a simple decision,” Ilić said.
He explained that the underlying goal is to make state property the sole ownership of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which he sees as the core issue.
“The real question is: do we even have Republika Srpska if we don’t have our territory? It no longer matters who holds the presidency. What’s also problematic is that some political parties responded hypocritically. In the past, they spoke as we did, saying this was a political trial, but after the verdict they changed their rhetoric and started preparing for early elections, seeing it as their opportunity—since they have no other way to come to power,” Ilić said.
He concluded that the most important thing now is to hear from those parties how they plan to defend Republika Srpska—because if it weakens, everything else becomes mere political opportunism.
Source: RTRS
