State of emergency declared in RS

BANJA LUKA, (Patria) - The National Assembly of Republika Srpska today declared a state of emergency in Republika Srpska due to the situation caused by the coronavirus.

The Assembly, at a special session held at the Banski Dvor in Banja Luka, adopted the Decision on declaring a state of emergency for the territory of Republika Srpska due to the epidemiological situation in Republika Srpska caused by the coronavirus.

This decision enters into force the day after its publication in the Official Gazette of Republika Srpska, it was announced from the Parliament of Srpska.

The decision was made based on Amendment CVII to Article 70, Paragraph 3 of the Constitution of Republika Srpska, which stipulates that the National Assembly, in accordance with the Constitution and the law, declares a state of emergency for Republika Srpska or a part of Republika Srpska in case of a threat to security, due to natural disasters (floods, earthquakes, and fires), natural catastrophes, epidemics, violations of human rights and freedoms, and the normal functioning of the constitutional bodies of RS.

Also, Article 38 of the Law on the Government of Republika Srpska (Official Gazette of Republika Srpska, No. 118/08) stipulates that the National Assembly of Republika Srpska, at the proposal of the Government of Republika Srpska, declares a state of emergency when security is threatened in the territory of the Republic or a part of the Republic due to natural disasters (floods, earthquakes, fires, etc.), natural catastrophes, epidemics, violations of human rights and freedoms, and the normal functioning of the constitutional bodies of the Republic, and that it itself proposes acts for taking measures in such circumstances.

The session was attended by the President of Republika Srpska Željka Cvijanović, the Serb member of the Presidency of BiH Milorad Dodik, the Prime Minister of Republika Srpska Radovan Višković, and ministers in the Government of Republika Srpska.