Professor of International Relations and Human Rights at London’s Regent University Neven Andjelic said that Republika Srpska (RS) entity President Milorad Dodik offers himself as a client of Russian interests. He uses the perception of centuries-old friendship between the Russian and Serb people to alienate himself from the West.

“He (Dodik) underwent a huge political metamorphosis. The UK, as one of the leading world powers, was always present in the Balkans. In 1997 and 1998 Dodik was one of West’s favourites. The British Foreign Office even brought him to London then because the then RS authorities were close to the British diplomacy,” Andjelic said. “The change of his policy to radical nationalism changed his relationship with the West. He’s now trying to find allies and protectors, offering to be a client of Russian interests. I'm not sure the use of the public’s perception of the centuries-old friendship between the Russian and Serb people will help him win the election.”

Andjelic claims that during the war in Bosnia (1992-1995), Dodik was the West’s favourite and was even invited to London to meet with the then Social Democratic Party’s (SDP) leader Zlatko Lagumdzija and the Democratic Action Party’s (SDA) high official Sejfudin Tokic. Back then, Dodik had a totally different attitude towards politics in Bosnia.

He added that Dodik’s claims that British spies are spying on him and Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vucic could be potentially dangerous to the relations between the UK and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Dodik’s election team had probably concluded that such statements could help them win the election. However, statements that British spies are working against Serb interests are a complete nonsense, Andjelic concluded.

He told N1 that Dodik’s concept of power is inspired by the presidents of Russia, Turkey and Hungary.

“A similar concept of power is also found in Poland. Small Balkan’ leaders find this concept to be ideal. It is what they want, but the real question is whether they can achieve it. Vucic has achieved it up to a certain point. Dodik does not have a state for this, but he does have an entity. He wants to personally dominate,” Andjelic said.

When it comes to Russia, this country does not have as big an influence as it is presented to the public. The Russians are not as present in Serbia as media presents it. NATO has held far more exercises with Serbian Army than Russia did. Russian economic influence in Bosnia is also very limited, which can be seen by the limited number and the size of Russian investments.