Reuters emphasizes that this is the first action of the Republika Srpska parliament, proving its formal recognition of Dodik's departure from office. Trišić Babić, a close ally of Dodik, will hold office until a new president is electedscheduled for November 23.
The Parliament of Republika Srpska also canceled a number of separatist laws adopted over the last year since Dodik was accused of obstructing the implementation of the decisions of the High Representative of the International Community in Bosnia and Herzegovina. This official is responsible for implementing the provisions of the Dayton Peace Agreement, which ended the war in BiH in the 1990s.
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The pro-Russian leader was removed from office
Dodik, under sanctions from the US and several European countries, is a pro-Russian nationalist who wants Republika Srpska to separate from Bosnia and Herzegovina and join it to Serbia. So far, he has rejected the decision of the Central Electoral Commission to remove him from office.
In February, the court of first instance sentenced Dodik to one year in prison and a six-year ban from holding public office for obstructing the implementation of the decisions of the High Representative of the International Community in BiH. This judgment was later confirmed by the appeals court. Dodik, in accordance with the law in force in the country, commuted the prison sentence to a fine.
Bosnia and Herzegovina is made up of three entities – the Serb-majority Republika Srpska, the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which is dominated by Bosnian Muslims and Croats, and the small Brčko District. Republika Srpska and the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina have their own presidents, governments, parliaments and are connected by weak central institutions based in Sarajevo.
