Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik in the Black Sea resort of Sochi on Sunday, wishing him success in the October 7 elections in which Dodik is running for the post of Serb member of Bosnia and Herzegovina's tripartite presidency, Republika Srpska (RS) entity television RTRS said.
According to RTRS, Putin said that relations between Russia and the Bosnian Serb entity of Republika Srpska were good and successful, especially in industry and oil refining.
Dodik presented his host with a Republika Srpska flag pin, which Putin immediately put on his lapel.
Before the meeting, Dodik watched a Formula 1 race in Sochi together with Putin.
Dodik said earlier he was pleased with Moscow's support for the RS and the preservation of the Dayton Peace Agreement, which ended the 1992-1995 Bosnian war.
Dodik's visit to Russia came at the end of his election campaign and is seen by analysts as Russia's open support for his presidency bid. His most serious contender is the current member of Bosnia and Herzegovina's tripartite Presidency, Mladen Ivanic, who is backed by the Alliance for Victory, a coalition led by the Serb Democratic Party (SDS), formerly known as the Alliance for Change.
