BELGRADE, February 28. /TASS/. President Milorad Dodik of Republika Srpska (an Entity of Bosnia-Herzegovina) has stated that the gravity of the current situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina is well understood in the Kremlin, as well as by the administrations of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico.
"The seriousness of the situation is recognized by leaders such as Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, and former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani. The Kremlin also understands it and has clearly expressed its position," Dodik was quoted as saying by Republika Srpska’s Radio and TV.
On February 26, a court in Bosnia and Herzegovina sentenced Dodik to one year in prison and imposed a six-year ban on his political activities for disregarding the decisions of the country’s High Representative of the international community, Christian Schmidt. This ruling was issued by a court of first instance and can be appealed. The final decision will be made by the higher chamber of the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina by the end of this year.
It is worth noting that Schmidt’s appointment in 2021 bypassed the standard UN Security Council approval process. As a result, the leadership of Republika Srpska, along with Russia and China, does not recognize his legitimacy.
Rudolph Giuliani, a former lawyer and close associate of ex-U.S. President Donald Trump, visited Banja Luka on February 25 and met with Dodik during his trip.