Bosnian constitutional court overturns controversial property law

BELGRADE, Serbia - Bosnia and Herzegovina's Constitutional Court on Thursday overturned the counter-version of the law on real estate in Republika Srpska (RS). The court's decision came after the Bosnia and Herzegovina High Representative announced on Monday that he had suspended the law a day before it was to take effect. The court said in a statement that the law was suspended and the decision was not unanimous, with one of the judges objecting.

Earlier, the Constitutional Court decided that the management of state assets belongs to the region (entity), and property rights belong to the State of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik regretted the decision. "Today's decision of the constitutional court is shameful and unfair. It shows that they do not know what to do, but we know very well what to do.

Bosnia and Herzegovina's Security Minister Nenad Nesic said the decision was made in the shadow of the High Representative and Bosniak politicians.

RS National Assembly President Nenad Stevanović also said that High Representative Christian Schmidt humiliated himself with the Constitutional Court's decision.

The High Representative has the power to dismiss anyone who interferes with the country's peace process, including members of the Presidential Council, and to make necessary laws. These powers are called "Bonn powers".

Asserting that the properties belonged to the regions under the Dayton Peace Treaty, which ended the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina, RS claimed that it also had the right to manage the properties in accordance with the law.

While the unconstitutional real estate law was expected to go into effect on Feb. 28, public entities used by DCs under the law are claimed as "part" of their property.