"Over 2,000 people, including Republika Srpska's top leadership, police, and members of Special and Civil Protection forces, took part in the Statehood Day celebrations in Banja Luka on Friday. Footage shows the former President of Republika Srpska, President of SNSD Milorad Dodik, along with other officials, arriving for the annual parade. "Do not forget - Republika Srpska is the covenant of heroes," said Zeljko Budimir, Minister of Internal Affairs of Republika Srpska. "Immediately upon its birth, the roar of war was heard and 26,000 of the best sons fell for Republika Srpska." "We hoped that Dayton Bosnia and Herzegovina could also be a measure for the Serbian people. From 1995 until today, they have been constantly attacking us," Budimir said. "That is why 2025 was a difficult and challenging year." Republika Srpska is the ethnically Serbian half of Bosnia-Herzegovina. The January 9 holiday marks the date in 1992 when Bosnian Serbs declared their independence, triggering a war in which at least 100,000 people were killed and millions left homeless. The celebration also coincides with the Serbian Orthodox Christian holiday. Bosnia's Constitutional Court declared the holiday unconstitutional in 2015, but celebrations are still held every year on this date."