The separatist Bosnian Serb leader on Sunday awarded Russian President Vladimir Putin with its highest medal of honor for his “patriotic concern and love” for the Serb-controlled half of Bosnia.
“Putin is responsible for developing and strengthening cooperation and political and friendly relations between the RS (Republika Srpska) and Russia,” said Bosnian Serb President Milorad Dodik at the award ceremony in the Bosnian Serb stronghold of Banja Luka.
Dodik, who visited Putin in Moscow in September, has maintained close ties with the Russian president despite Russia’s war in Ukraine. The medal will be handed over to Putin during the next meeting between the two.
Moscow has often been accused by the West of seeking to destabilize Bosnia and the rest of the Balkans through its proxies in Serbia and Bosnia.
Dodik honored Putin on the occasion of the “Day of Republika Srpska”, which has been considered illegal by the Constitutional Court of Bosnia.
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