Returnee in Zvornik (too) loudly said 'Dodik is a fat pig', RS MoI fined him 100 KM!

(Patria) - “Dodik is a fat pig. I fear neither the police nor the police chief, only dear Allah”.

Due to these loudly spoken words, Salih Nožinović, a Bosniak returnee to Zvornik, will have to pay a fine of 100 KM.

Namely, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Republika Srpska issued a misdemeanor order to Nožinović because he "loudly", in front of a catering facility in Zvornik, insulted the President of RS Milorad Dodik.

“The named person (Salih Nožinović) disturbed public order and peace on the specified day (August 4, 2023) according to Article 7 of the Law on Public Order and Peace by speaking multiple times in a raised and defiant tone in front of the catering facility La Scala: 'Dodik is a fat pig. I fear neither the police nor the police chief, only dear Allah', thereby causing unrest and fear in the person of Nikola Kukolj”, it is stated in the “description of the offense”.



The misdemeanor order was issued by the Zvornik Police Station on August 27, i.e., 23 days after Nožinović "loudly" insulted Dodik and thus caused unrest in Nikola Kukolj.

Here are the provisions of the Law on Public Order and Peace based on which Salih Nožinović was fined.

“Whoever disturbs public order and peace by arguing, shouting, screaming, performing or reproducing musical content or lyrics, wearing or displaying symbols, pictures, drawings or texts of indecent, offensive or disturbing content, and other indecent or defiant behavior, unless the aforementioned refers to publicly expressed opinion on the work of state bodies, and other public bodies and organizations, shall be punished with a fine of 100 KM to 300 KM”, reads Article 7 of the Law.

The Law, therefore, states that a fine cannot be imposed if the “offensive content” refers to state and other public bodies.

The President of RS and the RS Police are public bodies. However, this did not prevent the RS MoI from issuing a misdemeanor order because, according to their report, Salih Nožinović spoke defiantly that “Dodik is a fat pig”.

In addition to the abuse of the Law on Public Order and Peace, the authorities of Republika Srpska recently amended the Criminal Code, which criminalized defamation.

“A basis has been created for opening numerous criminal proceedings, both against journalists, media, activists, and opposition politicians, as well as against all others who point out any social problem in a public place. Regardless of the truthfulness of the statements they make, all can face the measures that criminal proceedings entail, which we had the opportunity to witness in previous years through numerous judicial farces and political showdowns through prosecutor's offices”, stated Transparency International after the adoption of this Law.