Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Serb-majority Republika Srpska is voting on Sunday to elect a new president.
The snap election follows the ouster of former Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik, a staunchly pro-Russian politician who had dominated the political landscape for years.
Why was voting held on Sunday?
Earlier this year, Dodik was sentenced to a year in prison and barred from political activity over separatist policies that international observers say have destabilized the Balkan nation.
Dodik flouted decisions by High Representative Christian Schmidt, the international envoy responsible for implementing the Dayton Accords peace accord that ended the Bosnian war 30 years ago.
Dodik had repeatedly threatened the possible secession of Republika Srpska from the rest of Bosnia.
His threats reignited fear in a country where the 1992-95 war killed nearly 100,000 people and displaced millions.
Although Dodik initially came to power in 1998 with Western support, he later began to express Serbian nationalist positions more openly and has attempted to lean toward Moscow in recent years.
What is the Republic of Srpska?
The 1995 Dayton Accords ended the war, leaving the Balkan country divided into a Serb-majority entity known as Republika Srpska, as well as the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, representing the Bosniak – also known as Bosnian Muslims – and Croat communities.
The mixed Brcko District was established as a buffer between the two entities.
Since the end of the war, Bosnia has been plagued by nationalist politics as well as corruption and substantial economic crises.
Who is the contender in Sunday’s voting?
The vote sees Alliance of Independent Social Democrats (SNSD) candidate Siniša Karan, who previously served as former minister of internal affairs and was considered Dodik’s right-hand man, pitted against Branko Blanuša, a university professor and candidate of the opposition Serb Democratic Party.
Four other contenders are also in the race but they are not considered strong candidates.
“The election campaign took place in a fair and tolerant atmosphere,” Blanusa said after casting his vote in the northwestern city of Banja Luka.
“I hope Election Day will be the same,” Blanusa said, encouraging voters to turn out in large numbers among the 1.2 million eligible voters.
As per the voting to be held on Sunday, a close fight is expected between Karan and Blanusa when the winner is announced. Preliminary results are expected after polling stations close at 18:00 GMT.
Edited by: Sam Dusan Inayatullah