IGC and BiH Diaspora Wrote to Canadian PM: Prevent Dodik's Referendums and Further Deterioration of the Political Situation

(Patria) - The Institute for Genocide Research (IGC) Canada and the BiH diaspora in that country sent a letter to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, pointing out the alarming escalation of destabilizing actions by Milorad Dodik in BiH, which represent a direct threat to peace and risk the recurrence of crimes and genocide.

They expressed concern over Dodik's defiance of the rule of law following his recent conviction and dismissal from office. They warned of the plan to hold a referendum on October 25 in the RS entity as a blatant rejection of the rule of law that could destabilize the state of BiH and the wider region.

"The referendum on October 25 must be prevented. All necessary measures must be taken to prevent further deterioration of the political situation," it was stated in the letter, one of the initiators and signatories of which is the IGC.

The letter was signed by representatives of numerous civil society organizations, professors, academics, cultural workers, and human rights activists from Bosnia and Herzegovina, the diaspora, and the region.

"Dodik is undermining the rule of law by challenging the verdict and dismissal from office by holding a referendum. After the verdict against Dodik, the National Assembly of the RS further escalated the constitutional crisis by adopting laws that reject the authority of state judicial and prosecutorial institutions in the RS entity.

In addition, Dodik alluded to an additional referendum on secession, and sought and received the support of the Russian Federation. All these activities that destabilize BiH, but also the region, pose a serious threat to peace and require urgent action from Canada as a member of the Peace Implementation Council Steering Board in BiH and as the current chair of the seven most developed countries in the world," the signatories of the letter emphasize.

Given Canada's long-standing commitment to peace, democracy, and the rule of law in the Western Balkans, they added that they called on the Government of Canada to take decisive measures in response to this development, in order to confirm its support for the territorial integrity, sovereignty, independence, and democratic institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina.