Dodik's lawyers to file appeal: Seeking trial transfer to Banja Luka as he is 'pre-convicted in Sarajevo'

(Patria) - The defence teams of Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik and acting Director of the Official Gazette Miloš Lukić will file an appeal with the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina today against the decision of the Pre-Trial Panel, which rejected their request to transfer the trial to the Basic Court in Banja Luka. The Appellate Panel of the Court of BiH has 15 days to rule on the appeal. They are being tried for not implementing the decisions of the High Representative.

Whether the main hearing in the Dodik-Lukić case will be held in Sarajevo or Banja Luka depends on the decision of the Appellate Panel of the Court of BiH. The defence's request for the transfer of the proceedings was previously rejected by the Pre-Trial Panel, shortly before the originally scheduled main hearing. The hearing on Wednesday, December 6, was not held due to the announced appeal.

A new hearing is scheduled for December 20 on the official website of the Court of BiH.

The defence is seeking the transfer of the court proceedings to the Basic Court in Banja Luka "due to doubts about the objectivity and impartiality of the Court of BiH, among other things, due to numerous media appearances by High Representative Christian Schmidt, the US and British ambassadors who are pre-convicting the President of Republika Srpska," as reported by media close to Milorad Dodik.

Milorad Dodik's legal advisor, Croatian lawyer Anto Nobilo, stated after leaving the Court of BiH on December 6 that the Court of BiH is irrevocably contaminated and that the trial should be moved.

The Court of BiH confirmed to Patria that Nobilo does not have a decision on representing Dodik, and that hearings will be held regardless of his presence, and that official summons will not be sent to him.