Republika Srpska adopts controversial flag ban, prompting constitutional clash

The parliament of the Republika Srpska entity approved amendments to its Criminal Code that would criminalise the public display of the flag of the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina, with penalties of up to three years in prison.

SNSD representative Srđan Mazalica declared the changes "unconstitutional" and said they breach the Dayton peace agreement and European human‑rights conventions, criticizing the BiH Constitutional Court for accepting the amendments as "unprecedented".

Bosniak politician Edin Ramić of the Party of Democratic Action warned that the measures aim to suppress Bosniak and Croat symbols, heighten political tension ahead of elections and the Srebrenica anniversary, and called for the Constitutional Court to block the ban.