"People are casting their votes in Republika Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina's Serb-majority political entity, in a snap presidential election called after electoral authorities stripped separatist Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik of the presidency in August. Dodik was removed from office for defying Bosnia's international peace envoy, Christian Schmidt, after his conviction for ignoring rulings by the international appointee, who oversees a peace deal that has held Bosnia together since the end of its 1992-1995 war."
"The court also handed him a one-year prison sentence, which he avoided by posting bail, and banned him from participating in politics for six years. Bosnia's top court upheld that ruling in early November. The election is seen as a crucial test of support for Dodik's nationalist party, which has been in power for nearly two decades. The early vote means the winner will serve less than a year before a general election in October."
A snap presidential election is underway in Republika Srpska after electoral authorities stripped Milorad Dodik of the presidency for defying Bosnia's international peace envoy, Christian Schmidt. Dodik was convicted for ignoring rulings by the international appointee who oversees the Dayton peace deal that followed the 1992-1995 war. A court sentenced Dodik to one year in prison, suspended by bail, and banned him from politics for six years; Bosnia's top court upheld the ruling. About 1.2 million voters can choose among six candidates. The race pits Dodik's chosen ally Sinisa Karan against opposition candidate Branko Blanusa. Preliminary results are expected election night, with final validation by the Central Election Commission.
Read at www.aljazeera.com
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