Milorad Dodik, the president of Bosnia & Herzegovina’s Serb entity Republika Srpska, is in Israel to attend a two-day conference on antisemitism, despite being subject to an active arrest warrant issued by Bosnian authorities.

Dodik’s trip comes just a day after he made a public appearance in Serbia, attending a ceremony in Batajnica near Belgrade to mark the anniversary of the 1999 Nato bombing of Yugoslavia. His ability to cross borders freely, despite the warrant, has raised concerns over the enforcement of judicial authority in Bosnia.

Earlier this month, Bosnia’s state authorities issued central arrest warrants for Dodik, Republika Srpska Prime Minister Radovan Viskovic and the entity’s parliament speaker Nenad Stevandic, who refused to obey a detention order issued earlier.

The three are wanted as they have pushed forward legislation changes violating the state constitution and the Dayton peace agreement. These changes would effectively mean Republika Srpska seceding from Bosnia, which would violate the Dayton accord.

The arrest warrant also prohibits the three politicians from leaving the country. However, Dodik has made no attempt to hide his international travels, posting details on X (formerly Twitter).

The Border Police of Bosnia and Herzegovina said on March 23 that an investigation is underway to determine how Dodik managed to leave the country undetected. 

“All measures and actions are being taken to determine the circumstances and ways the president of the Republika Srpska, Milorad Dodik, crossed the border between BiH and the Republic of Serbia,” a statement from the Border Police said.

The Bosnian authorities have not disclosed how Dodik traveled to Serbia, which has a land border with Republika Srpska.

Dodik’s visit to Israel follows an invitation to attend the Conference on the Fight against Antisemitism, scheduled for March 26-27 in Jerusalem. The event is expected to feature senior Israeli officials, including President Isaac Herzog and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

In a post on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), he praised Israel’s resilience and drew comparisons between the Jewish and Serbian peoples.

“Israel demonstrates that freedom and security are priceless,” Dodik wrote. “Just as Israel unapologetically defends itself, Republika Srpska defends its right to exist and honour the legacy of our ancestors.”

Dodik added: “The Serbs and the Jews are peoples that others have sought to annihilate – and yet they endured. That is why we understand one another. And that is why we stand together.”

During his visit to Serbia, Dodik also took to X to condemn Nato’s past military actions in the Balkans, posting a picture of himself standing next to Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic at the ceremony. 

“Nato bombed the Serbian people twice, out of pleasure, without hesitation or international approval,” he wrote. “Republika Srpska wants to see a strong Serbia. I believe that this leadership will restore stability to Serbia and continue the country's prosperity.”