Russian President Vladimir Putin welcomed the sought-after leader of Bosnia’s ethnic Serbs, Milorad Dodik, at the Kremlin, just a day after Mr. Dodik announced his visit to Moscow.
The Kremlin released footage showing Mr. Putin shaking hands with Mr. Dodik in a Kremlin hall, expressing that he was “very happy” to see him in the Russian capital.
Mr. Dodik is subject to an arrest warrant due to allegations of attempting to secede and violating the constitution. Bosnian prosecutors issued an international warrant for his arrest the previous week.
The Kremlin aired a video of the Russian leader – himself facing an international warrant for his actions in Ukraine – welcoming Mr. Dodik with a smile.
Mr. Dodik is an ally of Russia and the leader of Bosnia’s Serb-dominated Republika Srpska entity.
He later posted on social media that he had attended his “26th meeting” with Mr. Putin, claiming he had the support of Russia, which he referred to as a “guarantor” of peace in Bosnia.
“Russia will advocate for the termination and cessation of the work of international institutions, particularly the so-called illegitimate high representative,” Mr. Dodik remarked.
Yesterday, he shared a video from Moscow in which he lauded Mr. Putin.
He made his trip to Russia despite the international arrest warrant issued against him by the country’s deeply divided central prosecutors.
Since the conclusion of the 1990s conflict, Bosnia has been divided into semi-autonomous regions – Republika Srpska and a Muslim-Croat federation.
At 66, Mr. Dodik has repeatedly threatened to withdraw the Serb entity from Bosnia.
Despite the warrant, Mr. Dodik had previously visited Serbia and Israel. Russia shares close historical ties with Serbia.
