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Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina bans Republika Srpska lobbying funds
The Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina has ruled that budget allocations by the Republika Srpska (RS) entity for lobbying activities aimed at undermining the state's sovereignty and territorial integrity are unconstitutional. The decision specifically targets a consulting contract between the RS Representative Office in Vienna and the Canadian firm Dickens & Madson Canada Inc., which explicitly listed the independence of Republika Srpska as a political objective.
Following a legal challenge by Denis Zvizdić, the Court ordered the suspension of all payments related to this contract and any other lobbying efforts that run counter to the Constitution of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The ruling establishes a legal standard prohibiting the use of public funds to finance campaigns that threaten the country's constitutional order.
Denis Zvizdić welcomed the decision, stating that public money must serve citizens' development rather than undermining the state. Conversely, Milorad Dodik, leader of the SNSD, criticized the ruling as a “Sarajevo plot” and an attempt to interfere with how the Republika Srpska manages its own budget. Reports indicate that over 40 million Bosnian marks were allocated for such activities in 2025, with further funds planned for 2026.
Entities
Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina · Denis Zvizdić · Dickens & Madson Canada Inc. · Dickens and Madson Canada Inc. · Milorad Dodik · Mladen Filipović · Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina · Republika Srpska
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 9 SOURCES] The Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina ruled that Republika Srpska's budget allocations for certain lobbying activities are unconstitutional. prijedor24.com · novi.ba · www.kurir.rs · radiosarajevo.ba · bosnainfo.ba · +1 more
- [● 3 SOURCES] Over 40 million Bosnian marks were allocated at the Republika Srpska level for these activities in 2025. www.klix.ba · bosnainfo.ba
- [● 6 SOURCES] The contract with Dickens & Madson Canada Inc. explicitly included the independence of Republika Srpska as a goal. novi.ba · www.kurir.rs · balkaninsight.com · radiosarajevo.ba
- [● 8 SOURCES] Denis Zvizdić, First Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, filed the dispute request against Republika Srpska. prijedor24.com · face.ba · www.kurir.rs · radiosarajevo.ba · balkaninsight.com · +1 more
- [● 9 SOURCES] The ruling bans all future public spending for lobbying activities that target the sovereignty or territorial integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina. prijedor24.com · novi.ba · www.kurir.rs · radiosarajevo.ba · bosnainfo.ba · +1 more
- [● 2 SOURCES] The RS budget for 2026 allocated 15 million KM for transfers to foreign representations, while 49 million KM was allocated in the 2025 rebalance. prijedor24.com · radiosarajevo.ba
- [● 9 SOURCES] The Court banned all budget payments from Republika Srpska related to a consulting contract with Dickens & Madson Canada Inc. prijedor24.com · novi.ba · www.kurir.rs · radiosarajevo.ba · balkaninsight.com · +1 more