A court in Bosnia and Herzegovina today sentenced the pro-Russian president of Bosnian Republika Srpska Milorad Dodik to a year in prison and banned him from participating in politics for six years for his separatist actions, the Associated Press reported, quoted by BTA.
The landmark decision by the court in Sarajevo comes after a year-long trial against Dodik on charges that he opposed the international community's top peacekeeping representative in the Balkan country.
The leader and his lawyers were not in court during the sentencing. Dodik has said he will not submit to any verdict and has threatened "radical measures" in response, including the possible secession of the predominantly Serb region from the rest of Bosnia.
Dodik has repeatedly called for the secession of Republika Srpska and its unification with neighboring Serbia, leading the United States and the United Kingdom to impose sanctions on him and his close allies. Dodik has also been accused of corruption and pro-Russian policies.
Dodik's separatist threats have stoked fears in Bosnia, where ethnic bloodshed between 1992 and 1995 left 100,000 dead and millions displaced.
The U.S.-backed Dayton peace accords ended the war almost three decades ago and created two constituent entities - Bosnia and Herzegovina and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Republika Srpska, which is predominantly Serb, and the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which is predominantly Bosniak Muslim (Bosniak) and Croat.
The two regions were granted broad autonomy but retained some common institutions, including the army, the higher judiciary and the tax administration. Bosnia also has a rotating three-member presidency, made up of a Bosniak, a Serb and a Croat member.
During the hearing, Dodik was in the administrative capital of Republika Srpska, Banja Luka, where thousands of people gathered today to support him.
"They say I am guilty, but now the people here will say why I am not guilty", Dodik told the crowd shortly after the verdict was announced. "There is no reason to worry. I have learned to deal with more difficult situations. The important thing is that you are here," he added.
In neighboring Serbia, pro-government media reported that President Aleksandar Vucic had called an emergency meeting of the National Security Council.
Dodik is unlikely to be sent to prison, as he enjoys the full support of Vucic, who could grant him asylum in Belgrade. Dodik is also expected to appeal the verdict.
The president of Republika Srpska has repeatedly clashed with the international community's high representative, Christian Schmidt, and has declared his decisions illegal in Republika Srpska. The Dayton Peace Agreement provided that the High Representative could impose decisions and change laws in the country.
The Bosnian War broke out when the country's Serbs rebelled against the country's independence from the former Yugoslavia and took action to create their own mini-state with the aim of uniting it with neighboring Serbia.