Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik on Friday honoured a Russian writer whom authorities banned from entering Bosnia because he was posing a security threat.

Dodik, who is the President of the semi-autonomous Serb-dominated part of Bosnia called Republika Srpska, RS, has been at odds with the central government in Sarajevo for years.

He honoured Yevgeny Nikolayevich Prilepin, better known as Zakhar Prilepin, for his contribution to the strengthening of bonds between the Russian Federation and the RS.

Prilepin was supposed to attend an event in Banja Luka on Friday but was turned away by Bosnia’s border police a day before with the explanation that he poses a security threat.

The writer was involved in the war in Ukraine, supporting Russian separatists, and he also took part in the conflict in Chechnya in the 1990’s.

Bosnia is divided in two semi-autonomous regions – one dominated by pro-Russian Serbs, the other shared by pro-western Bosniaks and Croats.

Dodik’s cabinet said Prilepin was awarded for “his work and achievements on cultural and spiritual development, as well for his special achievements in the field of public activism which has contributed to the strengthening of friendly relations between the Russian Federation and the entity of Republika Srpska.”

The RS President also awarded the ‘Wolves of Vucijak’, a Serb paramilitary unit that fought in the wars in Croatia and Bosnia. They were honoured for their “heroic actions in the armed conflicts that represent a special example of heroism and serve as a role model to all future generations so they can fight for the freedom of Republika Srpska.”