Dodik declares party wins two key Republika Srpska posts

Milorad Dodik said his party's candidates are winning two key Republika Srpska posts, including the Serb seat on Bosnia and Herzegovina's tripartite presidency, the Central Election Commission said.

Reaction pending.

Dodik thanked President Vladimir Putin for support, officials said.

Minic and Cvijanovic declared winners

The Central Election Commission said Savo Minic is leading the Republika Srpska presidency contest and Zeljka Cvijanovic is leading for the entity's member seat on Bosnia and Herzegovina's national presidency. Officials described the tallies as preliminary and continuing to be processed.

If those leads are confirmed by the commission, allied officeholders would hold both the entity presidency and the Serb seat in the three-member national presidency. That configuration gives Republika Srpska's leadership formal participation in national-level decisions, including foreign-policy coordination and representation abroad.

The declaration and Dodik's public thanks to President Vladimir Putin add a diplomatic dimension to the vote. Officials in Sarajevo and regional capitals will monitor whether the reported outcome alters patterns of engagement with Moscow, Belgrade and EU institutions; movements in diplomatic contact and statements are the immediate channels through which policy effects are likely to appear.

Officials said the Central Election Commission is due to certify final results within 48 hours. That certification will set the formal timeline for when the declared winners can assume national roles and for governments and institutions to respond.