instruction: What was Nikola Poplašen's profession?
context: Nikola Poplašen (Никола Поплашен; born 15 December 1951 in Sombor) is a former Bosnian Serb politician. He was the president of Republika Srpska from late 1998 to 1999. He was removed by the High Representative of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Carlos Westendorp, on 5 March 1999. The removal was enforced on 2 September 1999.
  
  Following his removal from the presidency, he also worked as a member of the Senate of Republika Srpska. He testified as a defense witness for Radovan Karadžić in his trial.
  
  Bosnian War
  Following the outbreak of the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Poplašen left Sarajevo with his family to work for the newly-formed government of Republika Srpska in Pale. There he served as a member of the Advisory of Serb Democratic Party and also personally advised Radovan Karadžić. However, he left SDS in 1992 and founded the Serbian Radical Party of Republika Srpska. Subsequently, he worked as a commissioner for the government of Republika Srpska in Vogošća up to December 1992. He saw combat and was formally given the title of a Chetnik Vojvoda by Vojislav Šešelj.
response: Nikola Poplašen was a Bosnian Serb politician, president of the Republika Srpska from late 1998 to 1999.