Sarajevo - Amidst rising tensions, several thousand Serbs in Bosnia briefly disrupted traffic at crucial junctures connecting the country's two semi-autonomous entities on Friday. These protests ensued following the indictment of President Milorad Dodik on charges related to two contentious laws he enacted.

Among the demonstrators, some held up portraits of Dodik, while others displayed effigies of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Flags of Serbia and Russia were also seen among the protesters.

Concurrent demonstrations unfolded not only in the Bosnian capital, Sarajevo, but also in the regions of Tuzla, Doboj, and Nevesinje.
President Dodik, known for his affiliation with the Kremlin, signed legislation in July that would grant the Bosnian Serb entity the authority to bypass or disregard decisions made by the top international envoy to Bosnia. The United States contends that this undermines the Dayton Agreement, which brought an end to Bosnia's 1992-1995 war and established the present framework.

While prosecutors announced charges against Dodik on August 11, the country's highest court has not yet ratified them.

Anja Ljubojevic, the parliamentary vice president of the Serb entity within Bosnia's tripartite government, declared, "This is the last red line for the RS (Republika Srpska). We are going to protect our goods, our institutions because if they take them away from us, we won't exist. The RS is sacred and we will defend it."

These protests unfolded at four junctures connecting the Republika Srpska (RS) and the Muslim-Croat Federation, the two semi-autonomous entities comprising post-war Bosnia. These entities are connected through a centralized government with limited powers.

Initially, the protesters planned to gather outside the Bosnian State Court, but this was prohibited by the police citing security concerns. Djordje Radanovic, one of the protest organizers, asserted, "We want to say that this charge is political and aimed at preventing the president of the RS from carrying out his functions."

The international envoy, currently German diplomat Christian Schmidt, oversees the civilian aspects of the Dayton peace agreement. This role includes significant executive powers such as the removal of elected officials and the imposition of laws. However, Dodik has refused to recognize Schmidt's authority since it lost United Nations support due to interventions by Russia and Beijing.

Dodik has wielded substantial influence over the Bosnian Serb entity for an extended period, often exacerbating ethnic tensions through secessionist threats.