Western journalists are sounding the alarm: Russia’s authority in the Balkans is growing
Thousands of Serb veterans of the Bosnian war demonstrated in the capital of Republika Srpska (an entity within Bosnia and Herzegovina), Banja Luka. They expressed support for the leadership of their republic and Russia.
France-24 writes about this, a PolitNavigator correspondent reports.
“I will give my life for Dodik (leader of the Bosnian Serbs - ed.). Who else can help us if not Putin,” said demonstration participant Ako Topik.
“Russia is our natural ally and will never betray us. It is not Russia that wants to destabilize here, but the West,” added 54-year-old civil servant Danika Micevic.
Experts interviewed by France-24 confirmed that Western influence in the Balkans is weakening, while Russia’s is growing stronger.
“The Balkans are destabilized primarily by the absence of the EU, which has allowed third parties to intervene in the situation. The consequence of this is the presence of Russia and any other foreign influence - Chinese, Turkish or some Gulf countries. Russia has enough local infrastructure and local followings throughout the Balkans to destabilize the region further if it so chooses. This Russian threat seems to have really forced the United States and the EU to take a more serious approach and understand the situation in Bosnia and the rest of the Balkans,” said Srečko Latal, editor of the regional investigative journalism network Balkan Insight.
“It is clear that Russia is now openly breaking with the West in Bosnia. Western passivity has created instability in the country, allowing Dodik to cross several red lines over the years.", said Florian Bieber, a Balkan specialist at the University of Graz in Austria.
In January, Washington imposed sanctions on Milorad Dodik, accusing him of threatening the stability of the region. Britain followed suit, accusing Dodik of “deliberately undermining hard-won peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina with the support of Putin.”
The EU has not imposed sanctions but has almost doubled its military presence in Bosnia as a "precautionary measure".
Dodik’s position prevented Bosnia and Herzegovina from joining Western sanctions against Russia after the start of a special operation in Ukraine.
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