Lendo: Judiciary must treat Dodik and any other citizen in BiH equally

(Patria) - The proceedings against the president of the RS entity, Milorad Dodik, before the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina confirm that, despite obstructions, blockades, and attempts to deny their legality, Bosnian-Herzegovinian institutions are functioning, and that the rule of law applies to everyone, including the highest state or entity officials, states the Vice President of the FBiH, Refik Lendo.

"The criminal offense with which the president of the RS entity is charged is very clearly prescribed, and the fact that the indictment against him has been confirmed shows that there is sufficient evidence indicating that Dodik has violated the provisions of the Criminal Code of BiH related to the non-execution of decisions of the High Representative.

It is up to him and his defense to try to prove otherwise, and it is the obligation of the judicial institutions to act and make a decision solely in accordance with the valid laws.

Therefore, I call on the competent judicial institutions, primarily the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina, but also the holders of judicial functions, not to succumb to political pressures that attempt to question their constitutionality, jurisdiction, and impartiality.

The Constitutional Court of BiH has already confirmed the constitutional and legal basis for the existence of judicial institutions at the state level, and that fact, despite declarative opposition, was confirmed by Dodik himself by appearing before the Court of BiH. It's not that there was a need for him to acknowledge them, but he did so in any case.

The increasingly aggressive attacks and pressures on the Court and Prosecutor's Office of BiH, and even on the acting holders of judicial functions personally, also confirm that Dodik is aware of his actions, the offenses he is charged with, and the potential sanctions he faces.

The verdict against Milorad Dodik will not 'call into question the survival of BiH,' as the current Minister of Security, Nenad Nešić, claims, but it will definitely call into question the policies responsible for threats to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina, blockades of institutions, and obstruction of integration processes.

The judiciary of Bosnia and Herzegovina will operate as the law dictates and treat Milorad Dodik and any other citizen of Bosnia and Herzegovina equally, regardless of their position, financial status, political, ethnic, religious, or any other affiliation, and these institutions will have someone to defend them if someone tries to threaten them," Lendo concluded.