A court in Sarajevo has sentenced pro-Russia Bosnian Serb president Milorad Dodik to one year in prison and banned him from politics for six years over his separatist actions. The verdict becomes final after a year-long trial on charges that Dodik disobeyed the top international envoy overseeing peace in the country.
Dodik’s actions, including calling for the separation of Bosnia’s Serb-run entity from the rest of the country, prompted the Biden administration to impose sanctions against him and his allies. He has also been accused of corruption and pro-Russia policies.
The sentence was seen as a victory for Bosnian officials, who fear Dodik’s separatist threats could stoke tensions in the fragile Balkan state. Bosnia’s 1992-95 war resulted in the deaths of over 100,000 people and millions displaced.
International leaders have weighed in on the verdict, with US President Joe Biden’s administration supporting the decision. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has also criticized the verdict, saying it is an example of “weaponizing the legal system” to target a democratically elected leader.
Dodik remains unlikely to be sent to prison due to his strong support from Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, who can provide him with shelter in Belgrade.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/feb/26/pro-russia-bosnian-serb-president-milorad-dodik-jailed-for-separatist-actions