SDS appealed the CEC's decision, seeking the right to participate in elections

(Patria) - The President of the Serbian Democratic Party (SDS) Milan Miličević stated today that the party has filed an appeal with the Appellate Division of the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) against the decision of the Central Election Commission of BiH (CEC) to not allow them to participate in the October local elections.

"The CEC's decision is shameful and unprecedented in the practice of elections in Republika Srpska, i.e., BiH, because SDS is the only political party practically banned from these elections," Miličević told reporters after a session of the expanded Presidency of the party in Istočno Sarajevo.

He stated that he expects a positive resolution on the appeal, which he assessed as being based on the law, and above all, on the Declaration of Human Rights, on the freedom of political action and expression of political views.

According to him, by banning SDS from participating in the elections, the voting rights of more than one hundred thousand people who vote for that party will be denied.

Miličević emphasized that "every member of the CEC who voted for this decision should be ashamed, especially those who come from Republika Srpska".

"We believe, and our legal teams and lawyers assure us, that this is contrary to the interpretation of the basic situation regarding the transaction account. The current authorities in Republika Srpska are behind all of this," he said.

The CEC made a decision to prevent SDS from participating in the elections because their bank accounts were closed as they have been on the US "black list" since 2004.

The President of SDS further said that the party will participate in this year's local elections in any case.

"There is a way for SDS to participate in the elections under its emblem and with its members. SDS is needed by the people in Republika Srpska because we are the only constant of Republika Srpska, from the beginning through the war until today," said Miličević.

He accused the current authorities of Republika Srpska, led by the Alliance of Independent Social Democrats (SNSD), of destroying "everything that is a characteristic of Republika Srpska".

Member of the SDS Presidency Aleksandra Pandurević accused the President of Republika Srpska and leader of SNSD, Milorad Dodik, of being behind the CEC's decision to ban SDS from participating in the local elections, "together with those to whom he has handed over a lot".

"On the eve of our 34th birthday, he has been in power for more than half of that period. His rule began with the abolition of all symbols of Republika Srpska; he and foreigners did it together... One thing remained that they could not abolish, and that is SDS," she said.

Pandurević called on all citizens of Republika Srpska to "mobilize to save Republika Srpska from a totalitarian traitorous regime".

"SDS will save Republika Srpska from foreigners, but also from Milorad Dodik," she concluded.