Dodik's defense requests postponement of hearing on December 20: We insist that the trial be moved to Banja Luka

(Patria) - The defense of Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik has filed a motion to postpone the hearing scheduled for December 20 at the Court of BiH because another request to move the proceedings from Sarajevo to Banja Luka has not been resolved, Goran Bubić, Milorad Dodik's lawyer, told RTRS.

He stated that they received the summons for the December 20 hearing on December 14.

"This second request of ours should be resolved on its merits, not rejected like the previous one. We discussed potential dates at the last postponed hearing, but no date was set then. Being summoned four or five days in advance, of which two are non-working days, is not usual," Bubić said.

Bubić expects the Court to act in accordance with the law and approve the relocation of the trial to Banja Luka because the criminal offense was committed in Banja Luka, and both the accused and the witnesses are from Banja Luka.

"The defense is not prolonging the process, but merely doing its job. It is our duty to point out things that affect the legality of the proceedings. The request to move the trial from Sarajevo to Banja Luka was not created with the aim of prolonging it. All statements by the President of RS about the Court of BiH, which are now our reason for requesting the move, because it is reasonable to conclude that a vengeful atmosphere has been created at the Court of BiH that could affect the legality of the process," Bubić said.

He stated that the Court, given the arguments that objectively exist and that the defense will present at the trial, should issue an acquittal.