Bosnian court rejects attempt to block Republika Srpska 'statehood' referendum
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 11 August 2016 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Bosnian court rejects attempt to block Republika Srpska 'statehood' referendum, 11 August 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57db99e6a.html [accessed 8 October 2022] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
August 11, 2016
By RFE/RL's Balkan Service
The constitutional court in Bosnia- Herzegovina's autonomous Serbian region, Republika Srpska, has rejected an attempt by Bosniaks to block a planned referendum on whether to keep celebrating the entity's statehood day on January 9.
The court ruled on August 11 that the "vital national interest" of Bosniaks living in the entity would not be endangered by the decision to hold the referendum, scheduled for September 25.
In November 2015, Bosnia's state constitutional court declared the Day of Republika Srpska unconstitutional, saying it discriminates against non-Serb residents of the entity.
The court ordered the Serb-run entity to choose a date that would also be acceptable to the country's ethnic Croats and Muslims.
On January 9, 1992, Bosnian Serbs proclaimed the "Republic of Serbian people" at a time when Bosnia was still part of Yugoslavia.
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
