Bosnian Serb Referendum Backs Disputed 9 January Holiday

• 09.26.2016, 12:47
•  Europe,  World

AFP

Bosnian Serbs have voted overwhelmingly to maintain a Statehood Day holiday on January 9 in a controversial referendum held in defiance of a high-court ruling from Sarajevo, Radio Liberty reports.

January 9 is a Serbian Orthodox Christian holiday and the anniversary of Bosnian Serb lawmakers’ 1992 declaration of independence from Bosnia.

Authorities in Bosnia-Herzegovina’s autonomous Bosnian Serb entity said that with more than 70 percent of ballots counted in the September 25 vote, 99.8 percent supported the holiday.

Republika Srpska’s nationalist President Milorad Dodik said the vote would go down in history as the "day of Serb determination."

"I am proud of the people of Republika Srpska, of all those who came out and voted," Dodik said.

Western officials had urged Republika Srpska to cancel the referendum, saying that it challenges the rule of law and the Dayton peace accords.