Independence movements

Republika Srpska: constitutional status after the 2025 ruling

Where the question stood on 19 September 2026: Republika Srpska's entity status, the outcome of the withdrawal legislation, and the political situation after Dodik's removal.

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Status verified as of 19 September 2026. Political positions change; this explainer describes the documented position on that date.

Current constitutional position

Republika Srpska remains one of two entities of Bosnia and Herzegovina under the 1995 Dayton Agreement.[1] Its 2021-2025 legislative campaign to withdraw from joint Bosnian institutions was repeatedly annulled or suspended by the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina, most recently in March 2025.[2][3]

Leadership after Dodik's removal

Milorad Dodik was convicted in February 2025 and, following confirmation and a rejected appeal in August 2025, was removed from the RS presidency; RS Prime Minister Radovan Višković resigned the same day. Dodik retains substantial political influence in the entity despite the ban.[4]

Sources for this page

Each number marks a specific claim. Notes give the source, its locator and how it relates to the claim.

  1. 1.

    Claim: The General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina (the Dayton Peace Agreement) was initialled on 21 November 1995 and formally signed in Paris on 14 December 1995, establishing Bosnia and Herzegovina as a single sovereign state composed of two entities: the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Republika Srpska.

    • General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina (Dayton Peace Agreement) (PA-X Peace Agreements Database, University of Edinburgh, 14 December 1995) link, preamble and Annex 4 (Constitution). Source record
  2. 2.

    Claim: The Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina annulled several subsequent RS entity laws, including one affecting the state Agency for Medicines and Medical Devices and an attempt to block implementation of state-level legislation criminalising genocide denial and the glorification of convicted war criminals.

    • House of Commons Library, Bosnia and Herzegovina: secessionism in the Republika Srpska (UK Parliament) link, Constitutional Court rulings section. Government perspective or primary official source Source record
  3. 3.

    Claim: On 7 March 2025, the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina suspended further separatist legislation adopted by the RS National Assembly, pending its review.

    • Bosnia's top court suspends separatist laws adopted by Bosnian Serbs (Al Jazeera, 7 March 2025) link, article text. Source record
  4. 4.

    Claim: The sentence was confirmed on 6 August 2025, and Dodik's appeal was rejected on 18 August 2025, terminating his mandate as President of Republika Srpska with the termination date recorded as 12 June 2025; RS Prime Minister Radovan Višković resigned the same day (18 August 2025).

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Printed from https://independenceatlas.com/movements/republika-srpska/status · last substantive update 24 September 2026.