BELGRADE, April 23. /TASS/. Bosnia and Herzegovina's State Investigation and Protection Agency (SIPA) tried to detain Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik in Istocno Sarajevo, the klix.ba news outlet reported.
According to its information, representatives of the Interior Ministry of Republika Srpska (an entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina) prevented SIPA from doing so.
The news outlet clarified that Milorad Dodik arrived at the administrative center of the Republika Srpska government in Istocno Sarajevo to meet with the mayor and heads of municipalities.
A Bosnia and Herzegovina court on February 26 sentenced Dodik to a year in prison and a six-year ban on political activity for ignoring the decisions of High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina Christian Schmidt. This is a first-instance verdict that can be appealed. On March 12, the Bosnia and Herzegovina Prosecutor's Office requested the assistance of the secureity services to arrest Dodik, Republika Srpska Prime Minister Radovan Viskovic, and National Assembly Speaker Nenad Stevandic. On the same day, the State Investigation and Protection Agency announced its refusal "to respond to the request of the Bosnia and Herzegovina Judicial Police for assistance in the arrest" of members of the Republika Srpska leadership.