Russia in the Balkans

Western European and NATO countries are expressing growing concern about Russian influence in Bosnia and Herzegovina as the country enters a pre-election period. A meeting that’s been announced between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Bosnian Serb political leader Milorad Dodik is being perceived in Bosnia and Herzegovina as a direct support for the leader of the ruling party in Republika Srpska to win the elections. Over the past decade Putin’s regime has also developed a number of methods to influence the elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina. In this episode we’ll analyse how the Russian authorities have influenced elections throughout Europe and if there is a real concern that a similar thing could also happen in our country – particularly now, after the invasion of Ukraine, when the Balkans have been identified as one of the key locations in danger from Russian influence.

While Ukrainian and international prosecutors suspect Russian soldiers of possible war crimes, the Russian foreign ministry and embassy in Sarajevo have made great efforts since the beginning of the invasion of Ukraine to impose their version of events on the Bosnian public. But in their statements they have offered a series of allegations which independent investigative media and experts say are false. Russia has threatened to respond, just as it did in Ukraine, if Bosnia and Herzegovina tries to get closer to NATO. In this programme, experts analyse the Russian messages and their potential consequences for Bosnia and Herzegovina.