Stanivuković supports Milorad Dodik: The process is politically fabricated, he should leave by the will of the people, not in this manner

(Patria) - The Mayor of Banja Luka and the president of PDP, Draško Stanivuković, has expressed support for Milorad Dodik after the Appellate Panel of the Court of BiH confirmed the first-instance verdict sentencing the president of the RS to one year in prison and a six-year ban from political activity. In a social media post, Stanivuković stated that this is a political process and a fabricated trial.

“A hand that lacks popular support and legitimacy abolishes and nullifies the institution of the President of the RS. Those who rejoice at this verdict, from any national or political side, rejoice at a state without sovereignty, turned into a colony – whether of Germany, Europe, America, or anyone else, it matters less,” Stanivuković wrote.

He emphasized that in today's world, there is almost no country where an outsider, without electoral will, can make legally binding decisions.

“If that exists – it is not a state, it is a colony. More than a century ago, foreigners appointed administrators here, from Benjamin Kallay to this day. Do these times not remind you of that? Should we not fight for something different?” he asked.

Stanivuković reiterated his stance that Dodik should not have responded to the Court and Prosecutor's Office.

“The process against the President of the RS is political and fabricated. I have claimed from the beginning that he should not have responded to the Court and Prosecutor's Office, as this gives legitimacy to an illegal process. Dodik should leave by the will of the people and in elections, not in this manner,” the PDP leader stated.

He added that PDP had decided not to participate in early elections even before the verdict was delivered.

“We are not waiting for anyone's political downfall to seize our political opportunity. If the verdict is guilty, as it is – by preparing for regular elections, we preemptively avoid a crisis that, unfortunately, is now being entered,” Stanivuković concluded.