Bosnian Serbs to hold national holiday

Serbs in Bosnia are set to hold holiday on Monday (9 January).

This year’s Republic Day marks the 25th anniversary of the creation of the Bosnian Serb-run entity Republika Srpska (RS) on 9 January, 1992.

 An overwhelming majority of Bosnian Serb voters in September opted in a controversial referendum organised by the RS’ defiant national leader Milorad Dodik to continue to hold the holiday.

Bosnia’s constitutional court ruled that the holiday was illegal for discriminating against non-Serbs and cancelled the referendum, but Dodik pressed ahead regardless.

The referendum was criticised by the United States and the European Union, but supported by Russia.