Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on February 27, 2025
2 min readLast updated: January 25, 2026
Add as preferred source on GoogleThe Kremlin criticizes Milorad Dodik's jail sentence as politically motivated, warning it could destabilize the Balkans. Dodik, a Bosnian Serb leader, has rejected the charges.
MOSCOW (Reuters) - The Kremlin said on Thursday it believed a one-year jail term and political ban handed down to Bosnian Serb separatist leader Milorad Dodik was politically-motivated and could have negative and destabilising consequences for the Balkans.
Bosnia's state court on Wednesday convicted Dodik for defying the orders of an international peace envoy and sentenced him to one year in prison and ordered him to step down as president of the country's Serb-dominated region for six years.
Dodik, who has close ties with Russia, has rejected the indictment and retaliated with measures to reduce the state's presence in his Serb-dominated region of Bosnia by banning the state prosecutor, the state court, and the intelligence agency.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Thursday that Russian President Vladimir Putin had met Dodik many times and had a constructive working relationship with him.
"What happened in Sarajevo certainly provokes our negative reaction. We condemn such actions because they can have very negative consequences for the situation, not only in Bosnia and Herzegovina but also in the Balkans as a whole," Peskov told reporters.
"These are actions that will and could lead to the destabilisation of the situation, which is very bad. We believe that this persecution of Dodik is absolutely political in nature and is directed not only against Dodik personally, but also, in fact, against all patriotic Serbian forces. This is also unacceptable."
(Reporting by Dmitry Antonov; Editing by Andrew Osborn)
Milorad Dodik was convicted for defying the orders of an international peace envoy, resulting in a one-year prison sentence and a political ban.
The Kremlin condemned the sentencing, stating that it was politically motivated and could destabilize the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Dodik rejected the indictment and implemented measures to reduce the state's presence in his Serb-dominated region, including banning the state prosecutor.
Milorad Dodik has close ties with Russia and has met with President Vladimir Putin multiple times, maintaining a constructive working relationship.
The Kremlin warned that the actions against Dodik could lead to destabilization not only in Bosnia and Herzegovina but also in the broader region.
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