Russia requests extraordinary UN Security Council session on situation in BiH

(Patria) - Russia has requested an extraordinary session of the United Nations Security Council due to the situation in BiH, reports Al Jazeera reporter from Washington Ivica Puljić.

- This is a very important move by the Russian mission to the UN - said Puljić, adding that it is a closed session.

The crisis in BiH has worsened following the non-final conviction of Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik last week.

Dodik was sentenced in the first instance to one year in prison and a six-year suspension from political office for failing to implement the decisions of High Representative Christian Schmidt.

This has caused strong reactions in Republika Srpska, whose National Assembly subsequently adopted a series of laws prohibiting state security and judicial institutions from operating in that entity, including the Court of BiH, the Prosecutor's Office of BiH, the State Investigation and Protection Agency (SIPA), and the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council (HJPC) of BiH.

These laws, which the opposition says could push Republika Srpska deeper into crisis, are now being decided upon by the Council of Peoples of Republika Srpska.

In response to the verdict, Dodik is also announcing changes to the Constitution of Republika Srpska.

The possibility of the UN Security Council discussing the situation in BiH was first mentioned by Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, who visited Dodik in Banja Luka on the same day the verdict was delivered last Wednesday.