Serbia bought them time: Will Interpol decide on international warrants for Dodik and Stevandić next week?

(Patria) - Deputy Prime Minister of Serbia and Minister of Internal Affairs Ivica Dačić said that the request for issuing international warrants for Milorad Dodik and Nenad Stevandić, the President of Republika Srpska and the President of the National Assembly of Republika Srpska, is in the phase of initial review conducted by the Working Group on International Warrants and Diffusions (NDTF) at Interpol, responsible for compliance with the organization's statute and rules.

"Currently, the request for international warrants for Milorad Dodik and Nenad Stevandić is in the phase of preliminary review by the Working Group on International Warrants and Diffusions (NDTF) at Interpol, which checks compliance with the organization's statute and rules."

He stated that Serbia's engagement prevented the warrants from taking effect and thus "ensured the safety and protection" of Dodik and Stevandić, who are also citizens of Serbia.

"The final decision is made by the Commission for the Control of Interpol's Files (CCF), which meets at least three times a year, and the next session is scheduled for the period from April 7 to 11, 2025. The Republic of Serbia respects international institutions and the legal order, but will not renounce its procedures in defending the rights and interests of its citizens. Serbia will remain committed to this process and actively participate in all phases to ensure that the decision is in favor of our citizens, justice, and legality," said Dačić.

The Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina on March 27 requested the issuance of an international Interpol warrant for Dodik and Stevandić, who have been leaving BiH and do not wish to respond to the summons of the BiH Prosecutor's Office for questioning. After that, they were ordered into custody, but even after an internal search was issued, they were not arrested, so the BiH judiciary requested an international warrant for those attacking the constitutional order. However, Serbia, whose citizens are Dodik and Stevandić, intervened.

The third suspect for the attack on the constitutional order is the Prime Minister of Republika Srpska, Radovan Višković, but he has not left BiH so far, and no international warrant has been issued for him.