Bosnian Serb Republic Bars State Officials Amid Rising Tensions

Bosnia's Serb Republic is moving towards legal secession from the state following the recent conviction of its president, Milorad Dodik, who was sentenced to one year in prison and banned from politics for six years. In response, the regional parliament adopted laws that prohibit the operation of state-level judicial institutions within its territory, further exacerbating tensions in an already fragile political landscape. The ruling has been condemned by Russia, which labeled it politically motivated and warned of potential destabilization in the Balkans. Dodik's actions are seen as a direct challenge to the 1995 Dayton peace accords, which established the current structure of Bosnia as a nation. Critics, including opposition MPs, argue that these moves violate the Bosnian constitution and undermine the integrity of state institutions. The international community, including NATO, is monitoring the situation closely, with the potential for intervention should peace be threatened.