Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik’s pro-Russian stance and defiance of international peace efforts are escalating tensions in the Balkans. Despite a criminal conviction, Dodik maintains his grip on power in Republika Srpska, leveraging Kremlin support to challenge Bosnia’s peace order and push the country towards its most severe crisis since the 1990s war.
Dodik’s Defiance and Russian Alliance
Milorad Dodik, despite a recent criminal conviction for defying an international peace envoy, continues to lead Republika Srpska, one of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s two autonomous entities. His repeated visits to Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow underscore the Kremlin’s significant role in destabilizing the region. Dodik’s actions are seen as an open confrontation with the central Bosnian government, using Russia to bolster his position.
- Dodik has made multiple visits to Russia, praising Putin and supporting the invasion of Ukraine.
- His rhetoric often echoes false Kremlin narratives, including claims of
