Slovenia bans entry of former Bosnian Serb leader Dodik

LJUBLJANA, Sept. 11 (Xinhua) -- The Slovenian government on Thursday barred former Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik from entering the country, Deputy Prime Minister Matej Arcon announced after a regular cabinet meeting.

Arcon said the decision took effect immediately and applies only to Dodik himself, not to his family. He declined to disclose the reasons, citing confidentiality.

Dodik, 65, has long been a prominent political figure in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). He served as the Serb member of BiH's tripartite presidency from 2018 to 2022 and as president of Republika Srpska, BiH's Serb entity, until August.

Slovenia and BiH were both part of the former Yugoslavia until Slovenia declared independence in 1991. ■