DODIK: I EXPECT NOTHING FROM CONSTITUTIONAL COURT, THESE ARE LEGAL STEPS TO REACH THE EUROPEAN COURT

BELGRADE, AUGUST14 /SRNA/ – The President of Republika Srpska Milorad Dodik stated that he has no expectations from the Constitutional Court of BiH, but that all legal steps must be taken in order to reach the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg following the verdict handed down to him by the Court of BiH.

Dodik said they have found at least 40 examples from the case law of the European Court that contradict what is happening in BiH. He pointed out that the Constitutional Court of BiH itself created all the mess, but it is said that it is required to exhaust all legal remedies in a given country before it is possible to go to the European Court. "That is why we are going to the Constitutional Court – not because of any expectation that it will do something; I have no such expectations," Dodik told ATV. He said he has left the matter to lawyers and attorneys, authorizing them to do whatever they deem necessary, clarifying that the ultimate goal is to obtain a ruling from the European Court of Human Rights. He noted that the Muslims initiated this in order to keep someone preoccupied for two years, asking what will happen when, in two or three years, the European Court’s decision comes and says the ruling is annulled and that Milorad Dodik has the right to seek compensation. "But they believe that in these two years they can do whatever they want – that’s the whole story. In that function are Schmidt, the courts, the prosecutors' offices, and the Constitutional Court. I have no doubt about that," Dodik concluded. The Appellate Division of the Court of BiH confirmed on August 1 the first-instance verdict against the President of Republika Srpska Milorad Dodik, sentencing him to one year in prison and six years’ prohibition from political activity "for non-compliance with the decisions of Christian Schmidt."