Milorad Dodik, leader of the Alliance of Independent Social Democrats (SNSD), announced that he will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin during an upcoming visit to Moscow, where the two are expected to discuss relations between Republika Srpska and Russia.
Dodik said relations with Russia are at the level of a strategic partnership, adding that Republika Srpska wants both Russia and the United States to have economic activities in the Bosnian Serb entity.
He also said that during a recent visit to the United States he received recognition from Judson University, which, according to him, was awarded in recognition of his “fight against unjust sanctions.” Dodik added that he intends to repeat in Moscow the positions he presented during his visit to the United States.
The SNSD leader said cooperation with the current U.S. administration is “significantly easier” than with previous administrations, which he accused of having a “negative and hostile approach” toward Republika Srpska.
According to Dodik, previous U.S. administrations sought to centralize Bosnia and Herzegovina, with the judiciary being the key issue. He claimed judicial competencies had been “taken away from Republika Srpska and transferred to Sarajevo.”
Dodik further accused Bosniaks of using the judiciary as “an instrument for disciplining and abolishing Republika Srpska,” while criticizing court proceedings involving several political figures.
He argued that political processes in Bosnia and Herzegovina over the past three decades have been aimed at “stripping Republika Srpska of its powers.”
“That cannot survive forever. It may last for some time, but when the opportunity arises, the people will resist,” Dodik said.