BS
The Coalition for Free and Fair Elections “Pod Lupom” in June filed a complaint against the Alliance of Independent Social Democrats (SNSD) for premature campaigning and for the misuse of children for political purposes.
On the official account of the president of the political party SNSD, Milorad Dodik, on the social network X.com, on May 20, 2026, at 01:43 a.m., two video clips were published, showing donations of IT equipment to schools in Modriča and Brod. In the accompanying text/status, it was stated that the same activity would be carried out in a total of 27 schools in the territory of Republika Srpska. On Milorad Dodik’s official Facebook profile, on June 2, 2026, at 10:04 a.m., video recordings were published showing the delivery of IT equipment to schools in Derventa and Kozarska Dubica. All activities were financed by the President of Republika Srpska (SNSD), Siniša Karan. In addition, the video clips show children, students of schools in Modriča and Brod, and later in Derventa and Kozarska Dubica, receiving and installing the donated equipment. On one of the videos, stickers can be seen on the packages with the coat of arms of Republika Srpska, the signature of Milorad Dodik, and the message: “Your knowledge is our future. This computer is a gift from the President of Republika Srpska.”
The Election Law of BiH defines premature campaigning as “any form of campaign activity undertaken by political subjects in the period from the announcement of elections until the official start of the election campaign.” The misuse of children for political purposes is defined by the Election Law of BiH as: “the involvement of a child in activities that may be connected with political advocacy or promotion.” Since the content about activities financed by the President of Republika Srpska was published on Milorad Dodik’s X account, the president of SNSD, the Coalition “Pod Lupom” considered that SNSD violated election rules.
CIK requested an explanation from SNSD, but SNSD argued that it was indisputable that the content did not constitute electoral irregularities, since the Facebook profile of Milorad Dodik promoted the activity of the institution of the president, without mentioning SNSD or sending political messages aimed at influencing voters.
CIK requested valid evidence as to whether the decision to launch the project “Better Schools for a Better Future” was made during Milorad Dodik’s mandate as President of Republika Srpska, but the Office of the President of Republika Srpska did not provide the requested explanation.
CIK dismissed the appeal, stating that this manner of presentation, through the highlighting of the personal name of a political party leader alongside institutional symbols and the messages of the content itself, goes beyond informing the public about the delivery of equipment, and contains political messages and elements of promotion of Milorad Dodik, aimed at influencing voters and their will. “Children have neither the legal nor factual ability to understand the political context, the content of the campaign, nor the consequences of public exposure for political promotion, so their presence and portrayal necessarily amounts to the exploitation of their personality, emotions, and vulnerability to strengthen the political message of the party. This undermines their dignity and their right to identity protection, while politically creating the illusion of support that cannot be genuinely, freely, and consciously expressed,” CIK concluded. When deciding on the amount of the monetary fine, CIK considered as an aggravating circumstance the fact that SNSD had already once in this election cycle been punished for violating Article 7.3 of the Election Law of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and five times for violating the provisions of Article 7.1.
