European court rejects appeal by ousted Bosnian Serb leader

The European Court of Human Rights has rejected an appeal by Milorad Dodik, the former Bosnian Serb leader, against a conviction that removed him from office.

The Strasbourg court ruled the case inadmissible, ending his attempt to challenge a Bosnian court judgment handed down last year.

Dodik, the former president of Republika Srpska, was sentenced to one year in prison and banned from office for six years.

He was convicted for defying decisions issued by the international High Representative, the official who oversees Bosnia’s peace settlement.

The European court did not publish detailed reasons, but said the case had been dismissed at an early stage by a single judge.

Dodik was removed from office after the conviction was upheld by Bosnia’s courts.