SECOND-INSTANCE VERDICT AGAINST DODIK UNACCEPTABLE, APPEAL SHOULD BE FILED WITH STRASBOURG COURT

BANJA LUKA, AUGUST 1 /SRNA/ - Božica Živković-Rajilić, president of the Association of Women War Victims of Republika Srpska, stated that the second-instance verdict of the Appeals Chamber of the BiH Court against Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik is unacceptable, and that his legal team should file an appeal with the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg.

"I am convinced that if they appeal, with all the evidence showing that Christian Schmidt is not a High Representative and with other documentation, this whole case will collapse," Živković-Rajilić told SRNA. She emphasized that President Dodik should never have been put on trial because he is not guilty, as the alleged crime does not exist, and warned that this is a grave mistake that will have serious consequences for BiH. Živković-Rajilić stated that force is being used beyond all limits, fueled by hatred and an effort to destroy Republika Srpska. "This kind of torture and use of force against Republika Srpska and its leadership are unbearable," Živković-Rajilić concluded. The Appeals Chamber of the BiH Court has upheld the first-instance verdict against the President of Republika Srpska, Milorad Dodik, Dodik's lawyer Goran Bubić told SRNA. Dodik was initially sentenced to one year in prison and a six-year ban on political activity for failing to comply with the decisions of Christian Schmidt.