US EditionBosnia’s Top Court Annuls Secessionist Laws Passed by Republika Srpska
- In February 2025, the highest judicial authority in Bosnia and Herzegovina invalidated multiple laws enacted by the Republika Srpska Assembly that attempted to undermine state sovereignty within the entity’s territory.
- These laws followed the conviction of Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik for undermining state authority, and the court considered the laws an attempt to abolish Bosnia's sovereignty over part of its territory.
- The court noted that the laws, including one mirroring Russian legislation on non-profit organizations, conflicted with the Constitution and European human rights standards by restricting judicial institutions and freedoms.
- The court emphasized that jurisdiction over justice belonged exclusively to state institutions established with entity consent, stating that only the Parliamentary Assembly may restore previously transferred competencies.
- Following the annulments, the prosecutor’s office opened an investigation into the constitutional attack and issued arrest warrants for Dodik and key Republika Srpska officials, further escalating Bosnia’s political crisis.
11 Articles
11 Articles
The Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina has declared laws restricting the powers of judicial institutions and security agencies, adopted by the Republika Srpska parliament in February, unconstitutional and annulled them.
The Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina has invalidated the Law on the Non-Application of Laws and the Prohibition of the Activities of Extra-Constitutional Institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the amendment to the Criminal Code and the Decision on the Law on the Non-Application of Laws and the Prohibition of the Activities of Extra-Constitutional Institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The plenary of the Constitutional Court (CC) declared unconstitutional articles 1, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 of Resolution 006-2025 issued by the plenary of the Council of the Judiciary, which established units and district chambers specializing in constitutional matters.
Bosnia’s Constitutional Court Annuls Dodik’s Laws: Entity Has No Authority to Undermine State Jurisdiction
At the 158th plenary session of the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina, it annulled the Law on the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council of Republika Srpska, adopted on 27 February. In a statement by the Constitutional Court, they explained their decision to completely annul this law, which they had previously temporarily suspended. “The Constitutional […] The post Bosnia’s Constitutional Court Annuls Dodik’s Laws: Entity Has No Au…
He assessed that the Law on Non-Application of Laws and Prohibition of Actions by Extra-Constitutional Institutions of BiH, the Law on Supplementing the Criminal Code of Republika Srpska, the Decision on Measures and Tasks Arising from Unconstitutional Decisions and Proceedings of Extra-Constitutional Institutions of BiH, and points 3, 5 and 6 of the Conclusions of the National Assembly of Republika Srpska, held on February 26, 2025, are not in …
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