Poland has announced plans to prohibit Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik from entering its territory, citing his actions that challenge the constitutional framework of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Polish Foreign Ministry confirmed on Tuesday that it has initiated the legal steps necessary to enforce a national entry ban against Dodik, a key figure in the ongoing political turmoil in the Balkans.

This move aligns Poland with Germany and Austria, both of which have already banned Dodik from entry. The controversial leader has been at the center of the most severe political crisis in Bosnia since the 1990s war, largely due to his open defiance of the authority of Bosnia’s international peace envoy. His repeated challenges to state institutions have raised fears of renewed instability in the fragile, ethnically divided country.

According to an official statement from the Polish Foreign Ministry, the entry ban process is underway and expected to be finalized within days. The decision reflects growing European concern over Dodik’s efforts to undermine Bosnia’s central institutions and move the Republika Srpska entity closer to de facto secession, a development that many view as a direct threat to the Dayton Peace Agreement.

Despite the mounting international pressure, Dodik's political party has not issued any immediate response to Poland’s announcement. The silence from his camp underscores either a calculated pause or an unwillingness to escalate tensions further as European countries tighten diplomatic measures against him.

Earlier in April, Christian Schmidt, the High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina, responded to Dodik’s escalating provocations by halting all state-level budget transfers to his party. Schmidt, whose role is to uphold the peace framework and prevent a return to conflict, accused Dodik of consistently violating the constitutional order and dismissing the rule of law in Bosnia.

The situation reached a boiling point last month when Bosnia’s state police agency, SIPA, attempted to arrest Dodik under charges related to undermining the state. However, the arrest operation was blocked by heavily armed police loyal to Dodik in Republika Srpska, highlighting the deep divisions and volatility still present within Bosnia’s post-war political structure. Poland’s move signals a broader European effort to contain separatist threats and uphold regional stability.