The President of Republika Srpska, Milorad Dodik, the Chairperson of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Željka Cvijanović, and the Speaker of the National Assembly of Republika Srpska, Nenad Stevandić, have arrived in Moscow at the invitation of the Russian President’s Cabinet. The delegation is set to attend tomorrow’s commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the victory over fascism, held on May 9 in Red Square.
Despite central arrest warrants issued in Bosnia and Herzegovina, both Dodik and Stevandić have traveled abroad on multiple occasions. This latest visit has again drawn strong international attention.
Speaking upon arrival, President Dodik emphasized the significance of attending the event and underscored historical ties between the Russian and Serbian peoples.
“Coming to Russia is an opportunity to meet with the most important people, heads of state and government. I am grateful for the invitation to attend an event that preserves the memory of the fact that the Russian and Serbian people made an undoubted contribution to the victory over fascism,” said Dodik.
He further stressed that their presence sends a political message.
“Our stay sends a strong message that Russia is the guarantor of the Dayton Agreement. They understand what is happening to us, as shown by their conduct at the UN Security Council session,” Dodik added.
Meanwhile, Nenad Stevandić met with the Deputy President of the Russian Federation Council, noting alignment on several issues.
“We noted a high level of cooperation and agreement on all issues, especially regarding the illegal actions of Christian Schmidt, who does not have a seat on the Security Council due to the vetoes of Russia and China,” said Stevandić.
However, the visit has drawn criticism from the European Union. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas reiterated earlier warnings to candidate countries, including Bosnia and Herzegovina, to steer clear of official participation in the Moscow commemoration.
“Any participation in the May 9 parade in Moscow will not be taken lightly in the European Union, given that Russia is waging a war in Europe. We have made it clear that we do not want any of the candidate countries to participate in the events in Moscow,” said Kallas.
The presence of senior Bosnian Serb leaders in Moscow highlights ongoing divisions within Bosnia and Herzegovina and raises questions about the country’s European integration path amid shifting geopolitical alignments.
