Photo: Depositphotos
Sarajevo, 27 March 2025 – INTERPOL’s Sarajevo office has issued an international arrest warrant for the President of Republika Srpska, an autonomous entity within Bosnia and Herzegovina, Milorad Dodik. The Bosnian Serb leader, who is accused of separatism, fled the country despite the domestic arrest warrant and travelled via Serbia to Jerusalem, where he is taking part in a conference against anti-Semitism. The move only exacerbated an already tense situation in the region, where the political crisis has reached its highest level since the 1990s war.
Accusation and escape
Dodik is under the crosshairs of the Bosnian authorities on charges of “encroachment on the constitutional order” of the country. In February 2025, a court in Sarajevo sentenced him to one year in prison in absentia and banned him from political activity for six years. The reason was that Dodik had ignored the decision of the international peacekeeping representative in Bosnia and subsequently contributed to the adoption of laws that prohibited the federal police and judiciary from operating in Republika Srpska. These laws, however, were soon overturned by the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Instead of obeying the court’s decision, Dodik fled the country. He crossed the border with Serbia and headed for Israel, which angered Bosnian border guards, who are now investigating how he managed to avoid arrest. Sarajevo has already stated that the international arrest warrant has been handed over to Interpol, and Dodik can now be detained in any member state of the organisation.
Parallels with Israel
Speaking at a conference in Jerusalem on 26 March, organised by the Israeli Ministry of Diaspora Affairs, Dodik not only made no secret of his stay abroad, but also drew parallels between himself and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In a commentary for the Jewish News Syndicate (JNS ), he stated:
“They are constantly trying to question the right of our peoples to exist and to be independent. Prime Minister Netanyahu and I are persecuted because we do not bow our heads and win elections. But people understand everything – and this is our strength.”
These words came amidst an international outcry: Dodik’s presence at the conference has already forced German anti-Semitism commissioner Felix Klein to cancel his participation, citing the Bosnian politician’s controversial reputation.
Geopolitical dimension
The situation around Dodik threatens to destabilise not only Bosnia but the entire Balkan region. The pro-Russian leader, who has met with Vladimir Putin on several occasions, has long advocated the separation of Republika Srpska from Bosnia and Herzegovina and its possible accession to Serbia. His actions have received support from Belgrade and Moscow, while the US and EU have strongly condemned the separatist moves, calling them a threat to the Dayton Accords that ended the 1995 war.
Meanwhile, political chaos continues in Bosnia. After Dodik’s conviction, the Republika Srpska parliament passed a series of laws aimed at isolating him from the central government in Sarajevo, and Dodik himself called on Serbs working in Bosnia’s state institutions to return to their region. In response, the European peacekeeping force EUFOR increased its presence in the country, and NATO promised to “prevent the disruption of peace”.
What’s next?
Dodik’s journey to Israel was not only an act of defiance, but also a test of the international justice system. While Bosnian border guards are investigating how he crossed the border, Sarajevo hopes that Interpol will be able to apprehend the fugitive. However, Israel’s position remains unclear: will they extradite Dodik to Bosnia or will they allow him to stay, citing the political nature of the charges?
One thing is clear: this story is far from over. Dodik seems to have no intention of giving up, and his comparison to Netanyahu only underscores how deeply he is prepared to plunge the Balkans into a new crisis. The international community is watching closely, as the stakes in this game are extremely high.
