FEBRUARY 12, 2025 — Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Constitutional Court has suspended a law allowing Republika Srpska institutions to display foreign state symbols today, citing concerns over sovereignty and territorial integrity, reports Balkan Insight.
The decision comes amid growing tensions over Republika Srpska’s ties with Serbia.
The court issued a temporary measure on Wednesday, halting the implementation of the Law on Amendments to the Law on the Use of the Flag, Coat of Arms, and Anthem of Republika Srpska.
The law, passed by Republika Srpska’s National Assembly in November, permits the display of foreign symbols in public institutions, on official seals, and in official documents.
“In such a situation, the display of foreign state symbols alongside the symbols of the entity, with or without the symbols of the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina, could create the impression of a lack of sovereignty, territorial integrity, and political independence of Bosnia and Herzegovina,” the Constitutional Court stated in its ruling.
The decision suggests that the primary concern is the display of Serbian state symbols, though the ruling does not explicitly name Serbia.
The court warned that enforcing the amended law could escalate internal tensions and strain relations between the entity and the state. The legislation is now suspended until a final ruling is made.
Republika Srpska’s response to the court’s ruling remains uncertain. In 2023, the entity passed legislation prohibiting the enforcement of Constitutional Court decisions within its jurisdiction, raising questions about whether it will comply with the suspension.
Image: Gmihail, CC BY-SA 4.0
