Constitutional Court of Republika Srpska decides on Bosniak veto over symbol ban

The Council for Protection of Vital National Interest of the Constitutional Court of Republika Srpska evaluated a series of requests from the Bosniak Club of delegates in the Council of Peoples. It rejected the request to review the Declaration on protection of the Serbian people’s vital national interests, stating the Declaration is a political statement without general legal norms. The council found the Bosniak requests concerning amendments to the RS Criminal Code and the Law on Cemeteries procedurally acceptable and will issue a merit‑based decision within a month.

The criminal‑code amendment introduces prison terms of up to three years for publicly displaying, producing or trading flags, symbols, greetings or slogans that promote the Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina or the Ustaše ideology of the Independent State of Croatia. More serious offenses that cause disorder, violence or public disturbance carry sentences of two to five years. The Bosniak Club argues that these provisions infringe the vital national interest of Bosniaks. The RS National Assembly adopted the Declaration and the amendments in special sessions in early July, and the Constitutional Court will not rule on the veto concerning the Declaration.