• Bosnia's appeals court upheld a one-year prison sentence for Milorad Dodik.
• Dodik is banned from holding political office for six years over defiance of international rulings.
• The European Union calls for respect of the binding verdict on Dodik.
• Dodik rejects the ruling and claims it's politically motivated.
• The decision could prompt early elections in Republika Srpska.

A Bosnia appeals court has upheld a one-year prison sentence and a six-year ban on holding office for Milorad Dodik, the president of Republika Srpska, due to his failure to comply with rulings by the Office of the High Representative (OHR). This decision confirms a lower court's ruling made earlier in February, which sparked significant political unrest in the region, prompting associates of Dodik to express defiance against national authorities, according to trtglobal, aljazeera, and aa.

The European Union has voiced its expectation for all parties to respect the appeals court's ruling, reiterating that the verdict is binding. An EU spokesperson affirmed the need for cooperation with the court’s impartiality, echoing concerns about the political instability ignited by Dodik's actions that led to his conviction, according to aa and aljazeera.

Dodik has categorically rejected the appeals court’s ruling, proclaiming himself president for as long as he has support from the Bosnian Serb parliament. He accused the ruling of being a politically charged decision influenced by external actors, namely the international community and Bosnian central authorities, which he claims aims to undermine the political will of Republika Srpska, according to trtglobal, aljazeera, and aa.