The Government of the Republic of Serbian Krajina was the highest executive authority of the Republic of Serbian Krajina (1991âÂÂ1995). Its organization, jurisdiction, and decision-making procedures were regulated by the Constitution of the Republic of Serbian Krajina and laws of the Republic of Serbian Krajina, as well as subordinate legal acts.
In a historical context, the Government of the RSK represented a continuity of executive functions from previously existing bodies:
The first Government of the Republic of Serbian Krajina was elected on 19 December 1991, the day the Constitution of the Republic of Serbian Krajina was proclaimed.
This event was preceded by the gradual formation of executive bodies of Serbian autonomy in SAO Krajina and other Serbian regions that emerged within the administrative borders of the former Yugoslav federal unit of SR Croatia from mid-1990 to the end of 1991.
In Knin, on 27 June 1990, a decision was made to establish the Community of Municipalities of Northern Dalmatia and Lika (CMNDL). On 3 July, its provisional Presidency was constituted as an executive body, headed by Milan BabiÃÂ, then President of the Assembly of the Municipality of Knin.
On 25 July 1990, a large Serb assembly was held in GraÃÂanac in Srb, at which the Serbian National Council (SNC) was founded. Milan BabiÃÂ was elected President of the SNC, while continuing to serve as President of the provisional Presidency of the CMNDL.
At its first session on 30 July 1990 in Knin, the SNC called a Referendum on the autonomy of Serbs in Croatia, held from 19 August to 2 September, in which 98% of voters supported Serbian autonomy. On 30 September 1990, based on the referendum results, the SNC adopted a series of decisions aimed at further building Serbian autonomy in Croatia.
On 21 December 1990, the SNC and the Presidency of the CMNDL proclaimed the creation of SAO Krajina. At the same time, the Croatian Parliament proclaimed a new Constitution of Croatia on 22 December 1990, defining Croatia as a national state of the Croatian people, while Serbs were categorized as âÂÂother peoples and minorities.âÂÂ
The Statute of SAO Krajina of 21 December 1990 established the Executive Council as the executive authority. Milan BabiÃÂ was elected President of the Executive Council.
By a decision of the Executive Council on 4 January 1991, the Secretariat of Internal Affairs of SAO Krajina was established, and Milan MartiÃÂ was appointed as secretary.
On 21 February 1991, the Croatian Parliament adopted the âÂÂResolution on accepting the procedure for disassociation from the SFRYâ and a decision declaring Yugoslav laws invalid in Croatia. In response, the Serbian National Council and the Executive Council of SAO Krajina adopted the âÂÂResolution on the disassociation of the Republic of Croatia and SAO Krajinaâ on 28 February 1991, providing that SAO Krajina would remain within Yugoslavia as a separate political entity.
These decisions were confirmed on 18 March through amendments to the Statute of SAO Krajina, formally defining it as a separate political entity within Yugoslavia.
Shortly thereafter, without convening the Assembly of SAO Krajina and without consultations with official Belgrade, the Executive Council adopted a decision on 1 April to unite SAO Krajina with the Republic of Serbia. At the same time, a Referendum on the status of SAO Krajina was called for 12 May. Although the referendum result was affirmative, the Executive Council soon abandoned plans for unification with Serbia and returned to the concept of transforming SAO Krajina into a separate political entity within Yugoslavia.
In Knin, on 29 May 1991, a series of decisions transformed the Statute of SAO Krajina into the Constitutional Law of SAO Krajina and converted the Executive Council into the Government of SAO Krajina, headed by Milan BabiÃÂ as Prime Minister.
With the subsequent adoption of the Constitution of the Republic of Serbian Krajina, SAO Krajina was transformed on 19 December 1991 into the Republic of Serbian Krajina, after which the first Government of the RSK was elected, with Milan BabiÃÂ as Prime Minister. Between 1991 and 1995, in addition to the formation of new governments, periodic cabinet reshuffles also took place.
The Community of Municipalities of Northern Dalmatia and Lika was founded on 27 June 1990, and on 3 July its provisional Presidency of the Assembly was constituted as the executive body. At the end of 1991, the CMNDL was transformed into SAO Krajina.
The Serbian National Council was founded on 25 July 1990 at the large Serb assembly in Srb, and was dissolved after the transformation of the Executive Council of SAO Krajina into the Government of SAO Krajina (25 July 1990 â 29 May 1991).
The Executive Council of SAO Krajina was elected after the proclamation of SAO Krajina on 21 December 1990, and was later renamed the Government of SAO Krajina on 29 May 1991. It was dissolved on 19 December 1991, when the first Government of the Republic of Serbian Krajina was elected (21 December 1990 â 19 December 1991).
The first Government of the Republic of Serbian Krajina was elected on 19 December 1991 and was dissolved upon the election of a new government on 26 February 1992 (19 December 1991 â 26 February 1992).
The second Government of the Republic of Serbian Krajina was established on 26 February 1992 and was dissolved upon the election of a new government on 28 March 1993 (26 February 1992 â 28 March 1993).
The third Government of the Republic of Serbian Krajina was established on 28 March 1993 and was dissolved upon the election of a new government on 21 April 1994 (28 March 1993 â 21 April 1994).
The fourth Government of the Republic of Serbian Krajina was formed on 21 April 1994 and dissolved upon the election of a new government on 27 July 1995 (21 April 1994 â 27 July 1995).
The fifth Government of the Republic of Serbian Krajina was formed on 27 July 1995 and dissolved on 5 August 1995 (27 July 1995 â 5 August 1995). The government ceased to function on 5 August 1995 after the Republic of Croatia launched a military offensive against the Republic of Serbian Krajina.