evidence: Authorities in the majority Serb Republika Srpska – which along with the Bosniak-Croat Federation and Brcko District comprise Bosnia and Herzegovina – undertook sustained actions that undercut national institutions, increased interethnic tensions, and limited the freedoms of assembly and expression. Escalating verbal and legal attacks by Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik undermined the federation’s constitutional order, and divisive and inflammatory rhetoric from Republika Srpska leaders contributed to increased political and ethnic tensions throughout the country. On April 28, a federation government was formed after four years of institutional blockage. [...] The United Nationsor Other International Bodies: In contrast to the Brcko District government, the entity governments were generally unresponsive in dealing with the Office of the High Representative, which oversees implementation of the civilian aspects of the Dayton Peace Agreement. RS officials repeatedly declared High Representative Christian Schmidt was "illegitimate." In July the RS implemented legislation preventing the publication of the High Representative’s decisions in the RS Official Gazette, a violation of the Dayton Peace Agreement and the BiH Criminal Code. [...] Bosniak returnees in Rabrani village, Neum municipality, claimed local authorities from the Croatian Democratic Union of BiH infringed on their right to practice their religion by blocking permits for the renovation of the only mosque in the municipality for several years. After residents defied orders not to use the mosque, authorities launched a criminal investigation on August 31 for "dismantling or destroying an official seal" that the Bosniak returnees claimed was a form of political pressure.