Bosnia UK Network , the umbrella organization of Bosnian-Herzegovinian associations in the United Kingdom, has sent a letter to Prime Minister Keir Starmer calling on the British government to take urgent action against Milorad Dodik’s secessionist activities in Bosnia and Herzegovina. We urge our citizens to deliver a letter of the same content to the address of their local Member of Parliament. You can find the address of your MP at the following link: https://members.parliament.uk/FindYourMP
If you need additional help, please contact us at mirza@bosniauknetwork.org
Translation of the letter:
Dear Prime Minister,
As British Bosnians, we would like to express our gratitude to the United Kingdom for its continued support to Bosnia and Herzegovina in the post-war period and its commitment to our country’s Euro-Atlantic integration. The United Kingdom’s role in maintaining peace and stability in the Western Balkans remains invaluable.
However, we are deeply concerned about the ongoing political crisis in Bosnia and Herzegovina following the recent verdict of the State Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina against Milorad Dodik, President of Republika Srpska. Mr. Dodik was sentenced to one year in prison and a six-year ban from holding office for disobeying the decisions of the High Representative.
In response to this ruling, Mr. Dodik has intensified his efforts to undermine the constitutional order of Bosnia and Herzegovina. He has ordered members of his party to withdraw from state institutions and has initiated legislative measures in the Republika Srpska entity to prohibit the operation of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s judicial and security institutions in that territory. These actions are in direct violation of the Dayton Peace Agreement, which has maintained peace in the country since 1995.
The United Kingdom and the United States have previously sanctioned Mr. Dodik and members of his family for corrupt and destabilizing activities. However, his latest moves pose an even more serious threat, plunging Bosnia and Herzegovina into its most significant political crisis since the signing of the Dayton Peace Agreement. If left unchecked, this situation could escalate further, threatening not only the stability of Bosnia and Herzegovina, but also the security of the wider region.
We call on the UK Government to take urgent and decisive action to counter Mr Dodik’s secessionist activities.
We would be grateful for a response outlining what action the UK Government is currently taking to address this urgent issue. The people of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the wider Bosnian diaspora in the UK, rely on continued international support to preserve peace, democracy and territorial integrity.
