His invitation from Russia and Israel did not help: Dodik's request for a hearing postponement denied

(Patria) - Court of BiH judge Sena Uzunović rejected the request of RS President Milorad Dodik for a hearing postponement in the case against him for non-compliance with the decisions of High Representative Christian Schmidt, writes Istraga.ba.

Dodik's lawyer, Goran Bubić, requested the postponement of two hearings - September 18 and 25 - due to obligations the accused has as the president of the RS, after receiving an official invitation to visit Russia and Israel.

The defense of Dodik submitted as reasons for the postponement of the hearing an invitation from the Israeli Minister for Diaspora and the Fight against Antisemitism, Amichai Chikli, to visit that country, as well as an invitation from the advisor to the President of the Russian Federation, Anton Kobjakov, to participate in the International Forum "Russian Energy Week", which is held in Moscow from September 26 to 28.

In response to the request, it was stated that the Court of BiH had already granted the request of the first accused for the postponement of the hearing scheduled for September 11, with a letter from the Court, which emphasizes that the Court will not grant requests for postponement of previously scheduled hearings in this case in the future.

In this regard, the Court states that both hearings scheduled for September 18 and 25, starting at 1:00 PM, will be held.

"The Court does not consider the documentation you submitted with the request for postponement of all dates scheduled in September as reasons for the objective inability of the first accused Milorad Dodik, because, as it follows from it, these are not current obligations within the scope of the function of the president of the RS," stated the Court of BiH.

Additionally, the Court reminded Dodik's defense of all hearings that have been postponed so far: November 22, 2023, December 6, 2023, April 3, 2024, April 5, 2024, and September 11, 2024.

The Court notes that it has so far accommodated all of Dodik's obligations in his capacity as president of the RS, considering the submitted documentation in light of the obligations prescribed by the Constitution of the RS for the president of the RS.

"However, according to the Court's assessment, the meeting with the Minister for Diaspora and the Fight against Antisemitism in the Government of Israel, Amichai Chikli, as well as participation in the International Forum 'Russian Energy Week', are not mandatory obligations that the first accused has in his capacity as president of the RS," concluded the Court.